high fines

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "high fines" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to penalties that are significantly large in amount. For example, "The company faced high fines for violating environmental regulations." Alternative expressions include "severe fines" and "heavy fines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Jail-birds often receive high fines, and adding to their debt might just encourage more crime.

The Economist

High fines can be imposed on those using the facility without a permit.

The New York Times

The Treasury, smelling a money earner, intervened and imposed unexpectedly high fines on offenders with modest incomes.

Independent

Accusation: The proposed levying of high fines may create the opportunity for the government to exert pressure on Hungarian media.

The Economist

The aggregate revenue increase these cartels achieved by acting as they did was over $300 billion.At the other extreme is a system of very high fines.

The Economist

Why aren't high fines deterring bad behaviour?One reason could be that the fines, which can be seen as the price of crime, are too low.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

The soft mist contains a high fine particle fraction of approximately 65 to 80%.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

The results from in vitro aerosolisation studies demonstrated high fine particle fractions (FPFs) from several formulations.

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics

Powders were efficiently aerosolized (∼75% deposition determined by cascade impaction) with high fine particle fraction and rapid dissolution.

European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

"Why not pull that ad, and do the right thing, impost a very high fine I mean 12-13 year old kids".

Vice

High fine-scale site fidelity was exhibited by both sexes and is likely to contribute to the maintenance of this spatial segregation.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or regulatory consequences, be specific about the exact amounts of the "high fines" involved to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Don't just say "high fines" without providing any specific context or comparison. Always try to quantify the fines, compare them to industry standards, or explain who is affected and how. Vague language diminishes the impact of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "high fines" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "high" modifies the noun "fines". This noun phrase typically acts as the object of a verb or preposition, indicating the consequences or penalties associated with certain actions. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "high fines" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to describe substantial monetary penalties. Ludwig AI’s analysis of numerous examples shows its widespread use across News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While the phrase is generally neutral, providing specific details about the amount and context of the fines enhances clarity and impact. Alternatives such as "substantial penalties" or "hefty penalties" can be used to add nuance. Remember to avoid vague language and always provide context for the "high fines" being discussed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large fines

Uses a more straightforward synonym for "high", focusing on the size of the fine.

steep fines

Replaces "high" with "steep", implying a great or excessive amount.

hefty penalties

Substitutes "high" with "hefty", conveying the idea of a considerable amount.

considerable fines

Substitutes "high" with "considerable", indicating that the fines are worth taking into account.

substantial penalties

Replaces "fines" with a synonym that emphasizes the significance of the penalty.

severe financial penalties

Adds "financial" to explicitly state the nature of the penalties, and uses "severe" to indicate the gravity.

excessive fines

Emphasizes that the fines are beyond what is reasonable or acceptable.

exorbitant fines

Uses "exorbitant" instead of "high", suggesting that the fines are unreasonably large.

punitive fines

Replaces "high" with "punitive" to emphasize the purpose of the fines as punishment.

onerous fines

Replaces "high" with "onerous", suggesting that the fines are burdensome.

FAQs

What does "high fines" mean?

The term "high fines" refers to penalties involving a large amount of money, typically imposed for violations of laws, regulations, or contracts. The specific amount considered "high" can vary depending on the context and the severity of the infraction.

What are some alternatives to saying "high fines"?

You can use alternatives like "substantial penalties", "hefty penalties", or "severe financial penalties" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When are "high fines" usually imposed?

"High fines" are typically imposed for serious offenses, such as corporate malfeasance, environmental violations, or repeated infractions of regulations. The severity of the fine is usually correlated with the severity and impact of the violation.

Are "high fines" effective in deterring misconduct?

The effectiveness of "high fines" as a deterrent is a subject of debate. Some argue that they discourage misconduct by making it financially risky, while others believe that other factors, such as the likelihood of detection and the ethical culture of an organization, are more influential. There are arguments against ultra-"ultra-high fines", however.