he was fined

USAGE SUMMARY

'he was fined' is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to state that someone received a fine or penalty. For example: "The judge sentenced the defendant to three years in prison, plus he was fined $500 for his crimes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was fined £900.

Independent

He was fined again.

The New York Times - Sports

He was fined $256.

The New York Times

He was fined £80.

The Guardian

He was fined $100.

The Washington Post

He was fined $400.

The Guardian

He was fined £100 for that.

Independent

He was fined just 250 lats ($466).

The Economist

He was fined 110 billion won ($109m).

The Economist

He was fined and sentenced to imprisonment for six months.

Cornell University

He was fined $50 and court costs.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was fined", clearly state the reason for the fine and the amount, if known. For instance, "He was fined $500 for speeding."

Common error

Avoid ambiguous phrasing that obscures who imposed the fine. Instead of "He was fined", specify the authority or entity that issued the fine: "He was fined by the court" rather than an ambiguous passive form.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was fined" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone received a monetary penalty. This aligns with Ludwig's assertion that it's a correct and usable sentence. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate its use across various contexts, showing its grammatical adaptability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was fined" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to indicate that someone has been penalized with a monetary fine. As Ludwig confirms, it is widely used and easily understood. The phrase is predominantly found in news and media contexts, with neutral register. Common alternatives include "a fine was imposed on him" and "he received a fine". When using the phrase, it is important to clearly state the reason for the fine and the amount. Avoid ambiguous passive voice constructions, specifying who imposed the fine for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fine was imposed on him

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the fine as the action imposed.

he was ordered to pay a fine

Highlights the authoritative order to pay the fine.

he received a fine

Uses "received" to indicate that the fine was given to him.

he had to pay a penalty

Substitutes "fined" with "pay a penalty", focusing on the action of paying.

a monetary penalty was levied against him

More formal and emphasizes the legal aspect of the fine.

he was assessed a fine

Uses "assessed" to describe the evaluation and imposition of the fine.

he incurred a financial penalty

Focuses on the act of incurring the penalty due to an action.

he became liable for a fine

Indicates that he is legally responsible for paying the fine.

he faced a fine

Emphasizes that the fine was a consequence he had to confront.

he was slapped with a fine

Informal and suggests the fine was imposed abruptly or harshly.

FAQs

How can I use "he was fined" in a sentence?

Use "he was fined" to indicate that someone received a monetary penalty for an offense. For example: "He was fined for driving under the influence."

What are some alternatives to saying "he was fined"?

You can use alternatives like "a fine was imposed on him", "he received a fine", or "he had to pay a penalty" to express a similar meaning.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing a fine?

While "he was fined" (passive) is common, using the active voice (e.g., "The judge fined him") can make the sentence more direct and clear.

What's the difference between "he was fined" and "he was charged"?

"He was charged" refers to the accusation of a crime or offense, while "he was fined" indicates that a financial penalty has been imposed as a result of a conviction or settlement. He might be charged but not fined, or vice versa.