imposed a fine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "imposed a fine" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe the action of a person or authority issuing a financial penalty as a punishment for an offense or violation. Example: The judge imposed a fine of $500 for the defendant's reckless driving. Other examples: - The city council imposed a fine on the restaurant for violating health codes. - The teacher imposed a fine on students who arrived late to class. - The company was imposed a fine for violating environmental regulations. - The government agency imposed a fine on the company for false advertising.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

judged the defendant in contempt and imposed a fine.

Cornell University

It has imposed a fine of £37 million on GSK.

Independent

The court also imposed a fine of 20 million shillings.

The Guardian

Elders in Meghwal's village imposed a fine of 1.6 million rupees on her parents.

The Guardian

Along with the prison term, the court imposed a fine of $3,500.

The New York Times

Under French securities law, the regulator could have imposed a fine of up to €10 million.

The New York Times

The court also imposed a fine on the three of $268m.

The Economist

The court spared the lashings but imposed a fine of roughly $200.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

So you impose a fine.

The New Yorker

Then the rangers impose a fine.

The New York Times - Magazine

The commission cannot impose a fine of more than $1.65 million.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "imposed a fine", specify the exact amount and the reason for the fine to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity. For example, "The court imposed a fine of $1000 for violating the noise ordinance."

Common error

Avoid using "was imposed a fine." The correct passive construction would be "A fine was imposed" or "He/She/The company was fined."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "imposed a fine" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of officially levying a financial penalty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It typically involves an authority or governing body enforcing regulations by issuing monetary punishments, as shown in multiple examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "imposed a fine" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, primarily found in news, academic, and business contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately describes the action of assigning a financial penalty as a form of punishment or regulatory enforcement. While versatile, writers should be mindful of using the correct voice and context to ensure precision. Common alternatives include "levied a penalty" and "assessed a charge". Therefore, when writing or reporting, ensure that the amount, reason and acting authority are also included.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

levied a penalty

Focuses on the act of levying, emphasizing the official nature of the penalty.

decreed a financial penalty

More formally communicates the ordering of a financial punishment.

issued a penalty

Focuses on the act of officially declaring a punishment.

assessed a charge

Highlights the evaluation and assignment of a monetary obligation.

applied a sanction

Emphasizes the enforcement of a rule or law through a punitive measure.

ordered to pay a sum

Focuses on the directive to make a monetary payment.

exacted a payment

Highlights the demanding and receiving of a sum as a consequence.

placed a levy

Stresses the imposition of a tax or charge.

decreed a forfeiture

Indicates a formal declaration of losing something as a punishment.

charged a fee

Emphasizes the assessment of a specific amount for an offense or service.

FAQs

How is "imposed a fine" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "imposed a fine" is used to indicate that a person or authority has officially levied a financial penalty. For example: "The judge "imposed a fine" of $500 on the defendant."

What are some alternatives to saying "imposed a fine"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "levied a penalty", "assessed a charge", or "applied a sanction" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "was imposed a fine"?

No, "was imposed a fine" is grammatically incorrect. The correct passive constructions are "A fine was imposed" or "He/She/The company was fined". See also: a fine was imposed

What is the difference between "imposed a fine" and "paid a fine"?

"Imposed a fine" refers to the act of issuing a financial penalty, while "paid a fine" refers to the act of settling that penalty. One is the action of penalizing, and the other is the action of compliance.