face severe penalties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "face severe penalties" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in contexts where individuals or organizations are warned about the consequences of violating rules, laws, or regulations. Example: "If you fail to comply with the safety regulations, you may face severe penalties from the regulatory authority."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

He warned that public authorities would face "severe penalties" if they agreed to boycotts on ethical grounds.

The Guardian

Schools where most disabled children chronically fail to make adequate progress on those tests face severe penalties that could include closing them down.

The New York Times

In January, the then universities secretary, John Denham, capped student places and warned that universities would face severe penalties for over-recruiting.

The Guardian

Some journalists defied the ban but they could face severe penalties if their writing was perceived to undermine morale or assist the enemy.

The Guardian

"The rules for flying drones are designed to keep all airspace users safe and anyone flouting these rules can face severe penalties including imprisonment".

The Guardian - Tech

The Chinese authorities set a deadline of midnight Monday for those participating in the demonstrations to give themselves up or face severe penalties.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Native parents faced severe penalties, including jail time, if they did not send their children to the boarding schools.

Huffington Post

The agreement with Iran "has an extremely robust monitoring verification system" and Iran faces "severe penalties if they violate the agreement and for a very long period of time," he added.

Vice

In future, companies could face severe financial penalties such as multi million-pound fines if they fail to live up to such commitments.

The Guardian

Mergers face severe antitrust hurdles.

The Economist

Some 1.5m will face "severe food insecurity".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "face severe penalties", ensure the context clearly defines what actions lead to those penalties. Specificity enhances the warning's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "face severe penalties" without detailing the specific consequences. General warnings lack the necessary deterrent effect. For instance, specify potential fines, imprisonment, or other repercussions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face severe penalties" functions as a verbal phrase within a sentence. It typically acts as the predicate, indicating the potential consequences or outcomes of certain actions. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "face severe penalties" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote the serious negative consequences that may arise from certain actions. As Ludwig highlights, it is correct and appropriate for use in written English. It is most frequently encountered in News & Media contexts, serving as a warning or deterrent. While the expression is considered neutral, the contexts it appears in are commonly formal and serious. When using the phrase, it is crucial to clearly define the actions that could lead to these penalties, enhancing the overall impact of the message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

risk substantial punishment

Replaces 'face' with 'risk' and 'severe penalties' with 'substantial punishment', highlighting the potential for punitive measures.

suffer harsh consequences

Substitutes 'face' with 'suffer' and 'severe penalties' with 'harsh consequences', emphasizing the negative impact.

encounter serious repercussions

Replaces 'penalties' with a broader term 'repercussions', implying significant negative outcomes.

undergo strict disciplinary actions

Replaces 'face' with 'undergo' and 'severe penalties' with 'strict disciplinary actions', emphasizing formal corrective measures.

be subjected to stringent sanctions

Replaces 'face' with 'be subjected to' and 'severe penalties' with 'stringent sanctions', indicating a formal imposition of penalties.

meet with dire consequences

Substitutes 'face' with 'meet with' and 'severe penalties' with 'dire consequences', emphasizing a grim outcome.

be liable for rigorous fines

Uses 'be liable for' instead of 'face' and 'rigorous fines' instead of 'severe penalties', focusing on financial repercussions.

bear significant liabilities

Uses 'bear' instead of 'face' and 'significant liabilities' instead of 'severe penalties', focusing on the legal or financial responsibilities incurred.

draw heavy retribution

Replaces 'face' with 'draw' and 'severe penalties' with 'heavy retribution', implying a strong punitive response.

invite serious legal action

Substitutes 'face' with 'invite' and 'severe penalties' with 'serious legal action', focusing on the potential for lawsuits or legal proceedings.

FAQs

How to use "face severe penalties" in a sentence?

Use "face severe penalties" to indicate that someone will experience serious negative consequences for their actions. For example: "Companies that violate environmental regulations "face severe penalties", including hefty fines and legal action."

What can I say instead of "face severe penalties"?

You can use alternatives like "suffer harsh consequences", "risk substantial punishment", or "be subjected to stringent sanctions" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "face severe penalties" or "face a severe penalty"?

"Face severe penalties" is used when multiple or ongoing infractions lead to repercussions. "Face a severe penalty" refers to a single, significant punishment for a particular offense.

What's the difference between "face severe penalties" and "encounter serious repercussions"?

"Face severe penalties" typically refers to legally or officially enforced punishments. "Encounter serious repercussions" can be broader, including social or personal consequences beyond legal penalties.