impose punishment

USAGE SUMMARY

'impose punishment' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an action taken against someone who has broken a rule or law. For example, "The court decided to impose a hefty punishment on the defendant for breaking the law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"I ask that you impose punishment measured with a degree of mercy".

The Guardian

But Mr. Ravi, who dropped out of Rutgers, was not charged with causing Mr. Clementi's death, and Judge Berman's job was to impose punishment that fit the crime.

The New York Times

In civil contempt proceedings, a court may not impose punishment if it is clear that the individual is unable to comply with the order.

The New York Times

The statue does not impose punishment but is "a regulatory law intended to help protect the public from future harm by collecting truthful information and making it available to those who choose to access it," Alaska argues in its brief.

The New York Times

The Alaska law is typical, and the court's ruling that it does not impose punishment is highly likely to foreclose the argument now being raised in a New Jersey case that the laws operate as a form of double jeopardy.

The New York Times

For the first time, the administration has publicly declared, as it did in the case of Iraq, that if the Security Council fails to act, Mr. Bush will organize "like-minded nations" to begin to impose punishment.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The officials said that under the program, judges would take over the running of some settlement conferences from court attorneys, who lack the power to impose punishments.

The New York Times

The process — one in which Roger Goodell imposes the punishments, hears the appeals, and sets the terms of those hearings — clearly needs to be revamped, both in the interests of the players, who deserve fairer treatment, and of the league, which, from time to time, needs to impose punishments that can withstand at least the most basic kind of scrutiny.

The New Yorker

The process one in which Roger Goodell imposes the punishments, hears the appeals, and sets the terms of those hearings clearly needs to be revamped, both in the interests of the players, who deserve fairer treatment, and of the league, which, from time to time, needs to impose punishments that can withstand at least the most basic kind of scrutiny.

The New Yorker

Her comments echoed those of ECB president Mario Draghi, who last month warned that without moves to strengthen the fiscal pact and impose punishments on rule-breaking countries, the eurozone project could flounder.

The Guardian - Business

Legal punishment presupposes crime as that for which punishment is imposed, and a criminal law as that which defines crimes as crimes; a system of criminal law presupposes a state, which has the political authority to make and enforce the law and to impose punishments.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "impose punishment" when you want to emphasize the authority or power being exercised in assigning a penalty. For example, a judge "imposes punishment" after a trial.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice unnecessarily, which can weaken the sentence. Instead of "Punishment was imposed by the court", write "The court imposed punishment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impose punishment" functions as a verb phrase where "impose" is the verb and "punishment" is the direct object. It describes the act of formally assigning or applying a penalty. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "impose punishment" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, denoting the act of assigning a penalty for a violation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's best used when describing a formal or authoritative action. It often appears in neutral to formal contexts, such as news reports or legal documents, with the most common sources being news outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian. While alternatives like "administer a penalty" or "hand down a sentence" exist, "impose punishment" specifically highlights the power dynamic in assigning consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inflict a penalty

Emphasizes the act of causing someone to experience a penalty.

administer a penalty

Focuses on the act of administering or executing a penalty.

apply sanctions

Refers to the formal application of penalties or restrictions.

hand down a sentence

Specifically refers to a court delivering a legal sentence.

decree a punishment

Focuses on the formal declaration or ordering of punishment.

render judgment

Focuses on the judicial act of delivering a verdict or sentence.

mete out justice

Implies dispensing justice, which may include punishment.

assign consequences

Broader term referring to assigning any form of consequence, not just punishment.

exact retribution

Highlights the act of taking revenge or exacting a penalty.

levy a fine

Specifically refers to imposing a monetary penalty.

FAQs

How to use "impose punishment" in a sentence?

You can use "impose punishment" to describe a formal action where a penalty is applied. For example, "The judge will "impose punishment" according to the severity of the crime".

What can I say instead of "impose punishment"?

You can use alternatives like "administer a penalty", "hand down a sentence", or "apply sanctions depending on the context.

Which is correct, "impose punishment" or "inflict punishment"?

Both ""impose punishment"" and "inflict punishment" are correct, but "impose punishment" suggests a more formal and authorized action, while "inflict punishment" can imply a more severe or painful application of a penalty.

What's the difference between "impose punishment" and "assign consequences"?

"Impose punishment" specifically refers to assigning a penalty for wrongdoing. "Assign consequences" is a broader term that can include both positive and negative outcomes resulting from an action.