face imprisonment

USAGE SUMMARY

'face imprisonment' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to facing the consequences of a criminal offense. For example, "The criminal was found guilty and had to face imprisonment for his actions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They may even face imprisonment".

The Guardian

If they re-offend, they face imprisonment.

The Guardian

When forcibly returned to North Korea, they may face imprisonment.

The New York Times

Rights advocates say those caught are deported to North Korea, where they often face imprisonment.

The New York Times

In the video, Mr. Xu suggested that he was willing to face imprisonment.

The New York Times

He said he would rather face imprisonment for contempt than testify.

The New York Times

But there will be no respite for the countless Ethiopians who face imprisonment, torture and rape.

The New York Times

Gays in Uganda already face imprisonment for up to 14 years.

The Washington Post

Human rights groups maintain that the migrants face imprisonment and torture if they return.

The Washington Post

Thus I had no choice but to flee Iraq or face imprisonment or even death.

The Guardian

homosexuals can face imprisonment for up to 14 years - 27 of those countries are in Africa.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "face imprisonment" when discussing potential legal consequences or the risk of being incarcerated due to specific actions or circumstances. It effectively conveys the possibility of serving time in prison.

Common error

Avoid using "face imprisonment" interchangeably with terms like "arrest" or "detention". "Face imprisonment" specifically implies the potential for a longer-term sentence following a conviction, whereas the others refer to temporary holding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face imprisonment" functions as a verb phrase indicating the potential consequence of certain actions or situations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "face imprisonment" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It signifies the potential legal consequence of incarceration, primarily appearing in neutral to professional registers. Its high frequency in news and media demonstrates its relevance in discussing legal and ethical implications. The related phrases offer alternative ways to express the concept of potentially serving time in prison, each with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Be imprisoned

Simple alternative that focuses on the state of being in prison

Confront incarceration

Emphasizes the act of dealing directly with imprisonment as a reality

Risk incarceration

Highlights the potential danger of imprisonment. It focuses on the risk involved

Be subject to imprisonment

Focuses on the state of being under the power or authority that can impose imprisonment

Be liable to imprisonment

Emphasizes legal responsibility and the potential for imprisonment as a consequence

Be sentenced to imprisonment

Similar to 'receive a prison sentence', but emphasizes the act of sentencing

Receive a prison sentence

Highlights the judicial decision leading to imprisonment

Undergo imprisonment

Focuses on the process and experience of being imprisoned

Go to prison

More informal alternative indicating the act of entering prison

Serve time

Refers to the duration of imprisonment

FAQs

How can I use "face imprisonment" in a sentence?

You can use "face imprisonment" to describe the potential consequence of an action, such as: "Those caught engaging in the illegal activity will "face imprisonment"."

What is a formal alternative to "face imprisonment"?

A more formal alternative would be "be liable to imprisonment", which carries a stronger legal connotation.

What's the difference between "face arrest" and "face imprisonment"?

"Face arrest" implies being taken into custody, whereas "face imprisonment" suggests the possibility of a longer prison sentence upon conviction.

When is it appropriate to use "face imprisonment"?

It's appropriate to use "face imprisonment" when discussing the potential for a convicted individual to serve time in a correctional facility as a consequence for their actions.