enforce punishment

USAGE SUMMARY

"enforce punishment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to situations in which a person or group is responsible for ensuring that an appropriate punishment is applied for an infraction. For example: "The court will enforce the punishment of a five-year prison sentence for the defendant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And you won't enforce punishment for sexual assault, if you believe it's just "boys being boys" and that your responsibility and allegiance is to the more powerful male perpetrator, regardless of the number of accusations or the definition of consent.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Isis began to enforce punishments for looting without a licence, says Al-Azm.

The Guardian

The ICO, widely thought to have insufficient power to enforce punishments against companies found to have breached privacy laws, will be given new capacity to protect citizens in line with new European Union privacy directives.

The Guardian - Tech

Most other offenses in Islamic law are called taʿzīr crimes (discretionary crimes), and their punishment is left to the discretion of the qāḍī (judge), whose options are often limited to traditional forms (imprisonment or corporal punishment) but who may also feel obliged to enforce punishments dictated by local customs and mores.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The new measures focus on how teachers and school staff are able to respond to incidents within schools and enforce punishments.

BBC

Babe Ruth resisted Huggins' discipline; he did not respect Huggins due to his small stature, soft-spoken nature, and inability to fight, and Huggins was unable to enforce punishments on Ruth.

Wikipedia

As one of the world's largest countries by geographic area, but smallest by population density, the logistical challenges of protecting archaeological sites or enforcing punishment against looters in Mongolia are overwhelming.

The Guardian

The group invested more when the US-led coalition began to bomb oil fields and other targets and enforced punishments for looting without a licence.

The Guardian

In response, sheriff's officials have increased staffing and enforced punishments for inmates who assault employees.

Los Angeles Times

The problem is that the sanctions to enforce any punishment – fine or imprisonment – are constitutionally rusty.

The Guardian

Mayor Willie W. Herenton called the attack "disgusting" and promised to enforce any punishment doled out by the judicial system.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or ethical violations, use "enforce punishment" to clearly convey the idea of applying consequences to those who break established rules. This phrase is direct and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "enforce punishment" when you only mean to recommend or suggest a punishment. "Enforce" implies an actual execution or application of the punishment, not merely a proposition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enforce punishment" functions as a verb phrase where "enforce" is the verb, indicating the action of compelling adherence to or implementation of, and "punishment" is the noun, representing the penalty or consequence. It describes the act of making sure a penalty is applied. Ludwig indicates this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "enforce punishment" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that describes the act of ensuring a penalty is applied. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's considered correct and usable in various writing contexts. While semantically similar alternatives such as "impose penalties" or "administer justice" exist, "enforce punishment" provides a direct and unambiguous way to communicate the implementation of consequences for rule violations. The phrase is frequently used in news and media, encyclopedias, and wiki-type sources, with a neutral register appropriate for formal and informal discussions about justice and accountability. It is crucial to remember that using "enforce" specifically implies the execution of the punishment, distinguishing it from merely suggesting or recommending it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impose penalties

This alternative focuses on the act of applying formal penalties for wrongdoing.

administer justice

This phrase broadens the scope to include the entire process of ensuring fairness and applying consequences.

implement sanctions

This suggests a more formal or official application of punitive measures.

carry out sentences

This refers specifically to the execution of judicially determined punishments.

exact retribution

This implies a more vengeful or retaliatory form of punishment.

apply disciplinary measures

This alternative is often used in institutional or organizational settings.

ensure compliance with penalties

This focuses on the outcome of punishment, which is to ensure that rules are followed.

mete out discipline

This phrase evokes a sense of dispensing punishment in a measured or controlled manner.

uphold the law through penalties

This highlights the role of punishment in maintaining legal standards.

execute consequences

This alternative directly references the action of putting a punishment into effect.

FAQs

How can I use "enforce punishment" in a sentence?

You can use "enforce punishment" to describe the act of carrying out a consequence for a violation. For example, "The judge decided to "enforce punishment" to the fullest extent of the law".

What are some alternatives to saying "enforce punishment"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "impose penalties", "administer justice", or "implement sanctions".

Is it correct to say "enforcement of punishment"?

While grammatically sound, "enforcement of punishment" is less direct than ""enforce punishment"". The latter is more commonly used and generally preferred for its conciseness.

What's the difference between "enforce punishment" and "apply punishment"?

"Enforce punishment" implies ensuring that a predetermined punishment is carried out. "Apply punishment" simply means administering a punishment, whether or not it was previously determined.