impose penalty

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when talking about a penalty or punishment imposed on someone as a result of wrong-doing or a violation. For example: "The court decided to impose a penalty of a $500 fine on the defendant for the DUi offense."

✓ Grammatically correct

Pattern Recognition

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Furthermore, we impose penalty on parameters to tackle the singularity problem and design an efficient model selection algorithm to choose the optimal tuning parameter which balances the tradeoff between the global and local structures.

Pattern Recognition

In 2012, the World Health Organisation had added diesel emissions to the list of known causes of cancer in people, and councils were moving to impose penalty charges on diesel vehicles.

The Times

It can automatically impose penalty fees if the contract is violated, and one of the biggest benefits is that they're just as easy to draft as traditional contracts, and existing contracts can even be converted into smart contracts.

Forbes

The aim was to find a way out of the impasse over trade that has led both countries to impose penalty tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's exports.

Los Angeles Times

If the U.S. and the EU win the case, they will have the right to impose penalty tariffs on Chinese goods equal to the amount of harm being done to their domestic automakers.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The idea was to gauge how widespread use was in the majors and impose penalty-testing the next season if more than 5percentt of the results were positive.

The New York Times - Sports

It cannot impose penalties.

The New York Times

She said the United States would not hesitate to impose penalties.

The New York Times

He recommended that the federal agency impose penalties on El Paso.

The New York Times

You also have to impose penalties for weak performance.

Harvard Business Review

Congress may impose penalties in aid of the exercise of any of its enumerated powers.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "impose penalty", ensure the context clearly indicates who is imposing the penalty and on whom or what it is being imposed. For example, "The judge will impose a penalty on the company for violating environmental regulations".

Common error

Avoid using "impose penalty" when a reward or incentive is being given. "Impose" specifically refers to applying a negative consequence, not a positive one. Use "grant reward" or "offer incentive" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impose penalty" functions as a verb phrase where 'impose' is the transitive verb indicating the action of applying or enforcing, and 'penalty' is the noun serving as the direct object, representing the punishment or sanction that is being applied. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is appropriate for use in English writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "impose penalty" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to describe the act of enforcing a punishment or sanction. Ludwig AI validates its appropriateness for English writing. It's most frequently encountered in News & Media, Science and Academic contexts. Alternative phrases include "levy a fine" or "apply sanctions", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. A key writing tip is to ensure clarity regarding who is imposing the penalty and on whom it is being imposed. Avoid using it when referring to rewards or incentives, as "impose" implies a negative consequence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

levy a fine

Replaces "penalty" with "fine", focusing on a monetary punishment.

apply sanctions

Uses the term "sanctions" instead of "penalty", suitable for broader or international contexts.

administer punishment

Replaces "impose" with "administer" and "penalty" with "punishment", offering a more formal tone.

issue a sanction

Focuses on the act of issuing an official sanction.

exact retribution

Emphasizes the act of exacting revenge or justice.

decree a punishment

Highlights the authoritative nature of the punishment.

place a levy

Similar to levy a fine, but more general in application.

assess a charge

Focuses on the financial aspect of the penalty.

inflict a forfeit

Implies a loss or deprivation as a consequence.

order a forfeiture

Emphasizes the legal aspect of seizing assets as a penalty.

FAQs

What does "impose penalty" mean?

To "impose penalty" means to officially enforce a punishment or sanction on someone or something as a consequence of wrongdoing or a violation of rules or laws.

How can I use "impose penalty" in a sentence?

You can use "impose penalty" in sentences like, "The regulatory body decided to impose a penalty for non-compliance," or "The referee had to impose a penalty on the player for unsportsmanlike conduct."

What are some alternative phrases to "impose penalty"?

Alternatives to "impose penalty" include "levy a fine", "apply sanctions", or "administer punishment" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "impose penalty" and "issue a fine"?

While both relate to consequences, "impose penalty" is a broader term that can include various types of punishments, whereas "issue a fine" specifically refers to a monetary penalty.