escape punishment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'escape punishment' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about avoiding or not being subjected to legal or official penalties. For example: "The criminal was able to escape punishment by fleeing the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet the guilty will escape punishment.

The Economist

Obviously guilty murderers rarely escape punishment here.

The New York Times

"Those will not escape punishment".

The Guardian

The referee did not escape punishment, either.

The New York Times - Sports

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce will escape punishment for calling Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a "soft German".

Independent

By applying reverse privileges to themselves, they hope to escape punishment from the real dominants.

The Economist

Even Mr Suharto himself no longer appears certain to escape punishment.

The Economist

But what about the anguish of victims of violent crimes who see perpetrators escape punishment?

The New York Times

But stretched resources are only part of the reason polluters escape punishment.

The New York Times

West Virginia offers a revealing example of why so many companies escape punishment.

The New York Times

Mixon did not escape punishment, either from prosecutors or his university.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "escape punishment" with specific details about the context, such as the crime or the system that failed, for greater clarity and impact. For example: "The corrupt official managed to escape punishment despite overwhelming evidence."

Common error

Avoid using "escape punishment" when the situation involves minor reprimands or non-legal consequences. Reserve it for situations where legal or official penalties are at stake.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "escape punishment" functions as a verb phrase, typically following a subject, to indicate the act of successfully avoiding a penalty or consequence for wrongdoing. Ludwig examples confirm its consistent use in describing avoidance of legal or official repercussions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

9%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "escape punishment" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes the act of avoiding penalties for wrongdoing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Its primary contexts are News & Media and Academia, suggesting broad applicability. Related phrases like "evade punishment" and "avoid punishment" offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific scenario. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the level of formality and the specific context to ensure accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evade punishment

Focuses on skillfully avoiding punishment through cleverness or কৌশল.

avoid punishment

Emphasizes proactively preventing punishment through careful actions.

elude punishment

Suggests escaping punishment in a subtle or mysterious manner.

dodge punishment

Focuses on narrowly avoiding punishment through quick reactions or luck.

go unpunished

Stresses the lack of punishment received, often due to oversight or systemic failure.

shirk punishment

Implies neglecting or dodging punishment through negligence or inaction.

slip through the net

Indicates avoiding punishment due to systemic loopholes or failures in detection.

get away with

Highlights succeeding in avoiding negative consequences after committing an act.

outrun justice

Suggests actively fleeing or evading legal authorities to escape punishment.

cheat the gallows

Implies avoiding a severe punishment, often death, through some form of intervention or luck.

FAQs

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

You can use "escape punishment" to describe situations where someone avoids legal or official penalties, such as "The defendant attempted to escape punishment by feigning insanity."

What are some alternatives to "escape punishment"?

Alternatives include "evade punishment", "avoid punishment", or "go unpunished" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "escape punishment" in formal writing?

Yes, "escape punishment" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in legal, journalistic, and academic contexts. However, consider alternatives like "evade consequences" for a broader application.

What's the difference between "escape punishment" and "avoid punishment"?

"Escape punishment" often implies that an attempt was made to deliver punishment, but it was thwarted. "Avoid punishment", on the other hand, can mean preventing the situation where punishment would be considered in the first place.