blanket pardon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "blanket pardon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or political contexts to refer to a pardon that applies to a group of people or a specific situation, rather than to individuals. Example: "The president issued a blanket pardon for all those convicted of non-violent drug offenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

There is no blanket pardon: each individual has to apply.

The Economist

The court said that Mr. Fletcher had the authority to issue the blanket pardon.

The New York Times

A blanket pardon, without the detailed investigations carried out by the Home Office under the disregard process, could see people guilty of an offence which is still a crime today claiming to be pardoned".

The Guardian

Even though President Jimmy Carter, a fellow Georgian and political ally of Mr. King's family, issued a blanket pardon in 1977 for all draft evaders during the Vietnam war, it extended back only to 1964 and so did not cover Mr. King's 1961 conviction.

The New York Times

Fletcher exempted himself from the blanket pardon.

Wikipedia

The grand jury continued its investigation, issuing five more indictments after Fletcher issued his blanket pardon.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Webb declared Jimmy Carter's blanket pardoning of draft resisters a rank betrayal and an abuse of Presidential power.

The New Yorker

There has also been growing speculation in Washington that Mr. Bush might issue blanket pardons to government officials and intelligence officers who took part in counterterrorism programs like Qaeda interrogations, to protect them from the threat of criminal prosecution.

The New York Times

She noted that past presidents have issued blanket pardons to people in certain groups, and said that the Constitution says the president can issue a pardon for "offenses" and doesn't stipulate which crimes.

Los Angeles Times

I have to limit this to Democrats, as well, since making resolutions for Republicans is even more an exercise in futility (George Bush: "I will not issue blanket pardons before leaving office," for instance).

Huffington Post

Turing's Law, an amendment to the policing and crime bill seems to mean that while living men must apply for "disregards" of their convictions in the defunct "gross indecency" category, a selected number of the dead will benefit from the government's blanket, time-travelling pardon.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "blanket pardon", ensure the context clearly defines the group receiving the pardon and the scope of offenses covered. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "blanket pardon" to imply forgiveness for all past actions without clearly defining the specific offenses or group it covers. Lack of clarity can lead to misinterpretations and legal challenges.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blanket pardon" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a specific type of executive action. Ludwig examples demonstrate usage in news reporting and legal discussions, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment of its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "blanket pardon" is a commonly used and grammatically correct noun phrase referring to a pardon extended to a group of people or for specific offenses. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is appropriate for use in various contexts, especially within news and media. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "general amnesty" or "mass pardon", it is important to ensure clarity and avoid overgeneralization when using the phrase. Usage examples show that this phrase is seen most often in news media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

general amnesty

Emphasizes forgiveness extended to a group of people, typically for political offenses.

mass pardon

Highlights the large scale of the pardon being issued.

wholesale pardon

Suggests a complete and unrestricted pardon.

class pardon

Focuses on a specific group or category of individuals receiving the pardon.

sweeping pardon

Emphasizes the broad scope and reach of the pardon.

universal pardon

Implies that the pardon applies to everyone without exception.

overall pardon

Indicates a comprehensive pardon covering all offenses.

comprehensive pardon

Highlights the thorough and all-encompassing nature of the pardon.

collective pardon

Stresses the group nature of the pardon, applying to a collection of individuals.

undifferentiated pardon

Underlines that the pardon is being applied without distinguishing between individuals or offenses.

FAQs

What does "blanket pardon" mean?

A "blanket pardon" is a general pardon extended to a group of people or for a specific type of offense, rather than an individual. It's similar to a "general amnesty", but typically focuses on legal offenses.

How is a "blanket pardon" different from a regular pardon?

A regular pardon is typically granted to an individual for a specific crime. A "blanket pardon", on the other hand, applies to a group of people or all individuals convicted of a particular offense. This makes it similar to alternatives like "mass pardon".

When might a government issue a "blanket pardon"?

Governments might issue a "blanket pardon" to promote reconciliation after a period of conflict, to correct perceived injustices related to specific laws, or for political expediency. Issuing a "sweeping pardon" can be a controversial decision.

What are some potential drawbacks of issuing a "blanket pardon"?

Critics argue that "blanket pardons" can undermine the rule of law, allow guilty parties to evade justice, and fail to address the underlying causes of the offenses. This is why it's important to clearly define the scope of the "universal pardon".