impose a fine for

USAGE SUMMARY

"impose a fine for" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
Here's an example sentence: "The city council has decided to impose a fine for littering in public parks to discourage this behavior and keep the parks clean."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The judge, for instance, helped impose a fine for lawyers who bring "frivolous" litigation, even though there is no legislation specifically giving her the power to do that.

The New York Times

The Burnley Express also reported comments from Padiham's then co‑manager Liam Smith, who said he was "flabbergasted" by the "spineless" decision to impose a fine for leaving the pitch in those circumstances.

The Guardian - Sport

It is also possible, he said, that some proprietary leases could allow the board to impose a fine for an improper sublet, making it possible to encourage compliance with the lease without having to take the extreme remedy of evicting a shareholder.

The New York Times

A kid whose site is blocked conceivably could petition the FCC to impose a fine for what MySpace has done.

Forbes

Almunia ended his speech by reiterating that if a company does not comply with antitrust commitments the EC can impose a fine for that breach, without having to prove an infringement of antitrust rules — noting that such a fine was levied on Microsoft earlier this year, amounting to €561 million.

TechCrunch

And in Wyoming, a lawmaker has filed a bill that would impose a fine for using electricity produced using wind or solar.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

How does it help to impose a fine of £1,000 for every patient waiting an hour over target?

The Guardian - Opinion

The State of New York asked the court to impose a fine of 50 cents for each product sold with the license.

The New York Times

Starting in January, North Carolina will impose a fine of up to $50 for smoking in bars or restaurants and $200 for owners who repeatedly allow it.

The New York Times

The commission can impose a fine of up to £20,000 for individual rule breaches.

The Guardian

MOSCOW — The Russian Parliament passed a bill on Tuesday that imposes a fine for what it calls propagandizing "nontraditional" sexual relationships among minors, in the latest in a wave of socially conservative new rules here.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or regulatory matters, use "impose a fine for" to clearly indicate a financial penalty resulting from a specific infraction. This phrase is direct and easily understood in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "impose a fine for" when referring to fees or charges that are not punitive. Fines are specifically penalties for wrongdoing, not general costs. For general costs, use phrases like "charge a fee" or "levy a tax".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impose a fine for" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of assigning a financial penalty for a specific infraction or violation. As Ludwig AI indicates, this expression is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "impose a fine for" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of assigning a monetary penalty for an infraction. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most commonly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. Alternatives like "levy a penalty for" or "charge a fee for" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. Remember to reserve this phrase for situations involving actual penalties, not just general fees or costs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fine someone for

This alternative is a slightly different construction focusing on the recipient of the fine.

levy a penalty for

This alternative replaces "fine" with "penalty" and "impose" with "levy", suggesting a more formal or official action.

issue a penalty for

This changes the verb to "issue", highlighting the act of officially delivering the fine or penalty.

apply a sanction for

This phrase is more formal, using "sanction" instead of "fine", indicating a more serious or official consequence.

charge a fee for

This alternative uses simpler language, replacing "fine" with "fee", making it suitable for less formal contexts.

penalize for

This is a more concise and direct way to express the same concept, omitting "fine" altogether.

exact a payment for

This alternative is less common and emphasizes the act of demanding payment as a consequence.

require restitution for

This alternative is more formal and suitable when the 'fine' is intended to cover damages or losses

place a surcharge on

This phrase applies when the 'fine' is added to an existing charge or fee as a result of an infraction.

render a financial assessment for

This is a very formal and legalistic alternative best suited for courtroom or regulatory contexts

FAQs

How can I rephrase "impose a fine for" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you can use phrases like "levy a penalty for" or "apply a sanction for". These options often appear in legal or official contexts.

What's a simpler way to say "impose a fine for"?

A simpler alternative is "charge a fee for" or just "penalize for", which is more concise and easier to understand.

Is there a difference between "impose a fine for" and "fine someone for"?

While similar, "impose a fine for" typically describes the action of setting the fine for a specific infraction. "Fine someone for" focuses on the action of penalizing an individual.

When should I use "impose a fine for" instead of "require restitution for"?

"Impose a fine for" is appropriate when penalizing an action. Use "require restitution for" when the goal is to compensate for damages or losses caused by the action.