high sentence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "high sentence" is not correct or usable in written English.
It may be used as slang in a casual context, but it is not a grammatically correct sentence fragment. To use a more appropriate phrase in written English, you could say "a lengthy sentence." For example, "The judge handed down a lengthy sentence of ten years in prison."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The oddly poignant effect brought to my mind J. Alfred Prufrock's self-assessment: "not Prince Hamlet" but "an attendant lord... Deferential, glad to be of use, / Politic, cautious, and meticulous; / Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse".

The New Yorker

The debt to Eliot's "Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock" is equally transparent: No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; Am an attendant lord, one that will do To swell a progress, start a scene or two... Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse; At times, indeed, almost ridiculous — Almost, at times, the Fool.

The New Yorker

Such leniency should encourage developers of tools and algorithms in that text-mining applications do not need high sentence recall to achieve correspondingly high annotation recall (49).

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Italy has relatively high sentences of 3 to 12 years, but application remains a challenge.

The New York Times

He promised "to work hard to free all prisoners, especially those who serve high sentences, whatever the price was".

The New York Times

But Justice Breyer suggested that one legislative response to the ruling might be "astronomically high sentences," from which judges could depart downward at their discretion.

The New York Times

He regularly berated lawyers for being ill prepared, imposed high sentences in pretrial deals and, many lawyers said, excluded evidence and witnesses to end trials quickly.

The New York Times

But the stakes were high – sentences were Draconian for those caught, often after being "grassed up" by colleagues who had turned "supergrass" – and got even higher when robbers began regularly to be shot by SO19, the specialist police firearms unit.

The Guardian

Also, if Israel says it is social problems, and in some cases it is, the main question for Israel's military judges is why give these people such high sentences?

The Washington Post

This figure is much higher than the average percentage of high sentences for all remaining components, which is 48.79 %.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

"Every defendant facing a mandatory minimum sentence will be confronted with the reality that becoming an informant may be the only way to get out from under those very high sentences," says Natapoff.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "high sentence" in formal writing. Instead, opt for phrases like "lengthy sentence" or "severe sentence" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

While "high sentence" might be used informally in certain contexts, it's not a standard grammatical construction. Using it in formal writing can detract from your credibility and create ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "high sentence" functions as a noun phrase, where "high" attempts to modify "sentence". However, Ludwig AI identifies that it is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Despite this, it attempts to convey the idea of a long or severe punishment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "high sentence" is sometimes used informally to describe a lengthy or severe punishment, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, recommending alternatives such as "lengthy sentence" or "severe sentence" for improved clarity and grammatical accuracy. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but its usage in formal writing should be avoided. Reliable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian have used the expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lengthy sentence

Replaces "high" with a more standard adjective to describe the duration of the sentence.

severe sentence

Focuses on the severity rather than the length, conveying a strong punishment.

harsh sentence

Similar to "severe sentence", emphasizing the perceived unfairness or rigor of the punishment.

stiff sentence

An informal way to describe a rigorous penalty or sentence.

maximum sentence

Refers to the upper limit of punishment allowed for a crime.

long prison term

More specific, indicating a substantial duration of imprisonment.

significant penalty

Broader, encompassing fines, community service, or other forms of punishment.

draconian punishment

Implies an extremely severe and disproportionate penalty.

heavy fine

If the "sentence" involves monetary payment, which is technically not always the case.

custodial sentence

A formal term indicating imprisonment.

FAQs

What does "high sentence" mean?

While not grammatically correct, "high sentence" is sometimes used informally to refer to a long or severe prison sentence. It's best to use more precise language like "lengthy sentence" or "severe sentence".

Is it correct to say "high sentence"?

No, "high sentence" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Use alternatives such as "long sentence", "severe sentence", or "harsh sentence" for clarity and accuracy.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "high sentence"?

Better alternatives include "lengthy sentence", "stiff sentence", "maximum sentence", or "significant penalty", depending on the specific meaning you intend to convey.

How can I use the concept of a "high sentence" correctly in a sentence?

Instead of "high sentence", you might say: "The defendant received a lengthy sentence for his crimes", or "The judge imposed a severe sentence to deter future offenses".