a severe fine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe fine" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing penalties or monetary punishments that are significant in amount or impact. Example: "The company faced a severe fine for violating environmental regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Consumer Affairs Victoria told the federal court last week that the agency should face a severe fine.

The Guardian - Business

Although many people drive distracted, by texting and using apps on smartphones, I don't think anyone would be surprised if a driver who killed someone while texting and driving, was subject to criminal penalties, a severe fine, jail-time, and additionally a civil lawsuit.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In proportion to Deloitte's total revenue in the country, it is the most severe fine Spain has ever imposed on a Big Five auditing firm, analysts said.

The New York Times

Subjects all had at least mildly severe fine wrinkling and mottled hyperpigmentation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology

The new rule aimed to limit the total of time a property could be rented to just 75 days a year, imposing severe fines for those breaking the rules.

Independent

In the spring of 2010, responding to many well-publicized accounts of planes being stranded on tarmacs for four, six and even 10 hours, the department issued a rule that carries severe fines for airlines that keep passengers on idled planes for more than three hours without a very good excuse.

The New York Times

With the support of the state's employers, it imposed severe restrictions on the ability to protest, including banning protests within 50 metres of a college and giving the right to change the route of a protest at short notice, with severe fines for those protesters who did not co-operate.

The Guardian - Opinion

If Google had lost on several counts of the case, it could have been subject to severe fines or been forced to let Oracle in on future developments of Android.

The New York Times

(They faced severe fines and penalties — sometimes death — if they defied the interdiction).

The New York Times

Sellers of oversize plots have been warned of severe fines, as much as 300 times the plot's price.

The New York Times

But as a step in the right direction, stores that fail to sweep the sidewalks in front of them could be heavily penalized, with particularly severe fines for the big chains.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a severe fine", ensure the context clearly establishes the reason for the fine and the specific rule or law that was violated. This adds weight and credibility to the statement.

Common error

Avoid pairing "severe" with other subjective adjectives (e.g., "a very severe fine") as this can weaken the impact. Let the severity speak for itself through the context and consequences.

Linguistic Context

"A severe fine" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "severe" modifies the noun "fine". It describes a penalty, emphasizing its magnitude or impact. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a severe fine" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a significant monetary penalty. Ludwig's analysis indicates that while grammatically correct, its occurrence is rare. It's predominantly found in news and business contexts, serving to communicate the imposition of a substantial financial consequence. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "a hefty fine" or "a substantial fine". Remember to clearly establish the context and reason for the fine to maximize the phrase's impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a hefty fine

Replaces "severe" with "hefty", emphasizing the large amount of the fine.

a substantial fine

Substitutes "severe" with "substantial", highlighting the significant amount of the fine.

a large fine

Uses "large" instead of "severe", focusing on the size of the fine.

a significant penalty

Replaces both "severe" and "fine" with "significant penalty", broadening the scope from just monetary fines to other punishments.

a harsh penalty

Replaces "severe fine" with "harsh penalty", emphasizing the severity and unpleasantness of the penalty.

a crippling fine

Emphasizes the damaging impact of the fine, suggesting it could severely hinder the recipient.

an exorbitant fine

Highlights that the fine is excessive and beyond reasonable bounds.

punitive fine

Highlights that the fine is intended as punishment.

a major financial penalty

Expands on "fine" to clarify it as a financial consequence.

a draconian fine

Implies the fine is extremely harsh and possibly excessive, similar to the laws of Draco.

FAQs

How can I use "a severe fine" in a sentence?

You can use "a severe fine" to describe a monetary penalty that is significantly large or has serious consequences. For example, "The company faced "a severe fine" for violating environmental regulations."

What are some alternatives to "a severe fine"?

Alternatives include "a hefty fine", "a substantial fine", or "a significant penalty", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a severely fine"?

No, "a severely fine" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "a severe fine", where "severe" is an adjective modifying the noun "fine".

What distinguishes "a severe fine" from "a regular fine"?

"A severe fine" implies that the monetary penalty is notably large, impactful, or carries significant consequences, whereas "a regular fine" simply indicates a standard or typical fine.