imposed a surcharge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "imposed a surcharge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of adding an extra charge or fee to a standard price, often in a business or financial context. Example: "Due to increased operational costs, the company imposed a surcharge on all late payments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

For the first time in several years, lines plying the Pacific have not imposed a surcharge on freight rates during the peak shipping season, July to November.

The New York Times

Even so, the government of the time couldn't quite let go of control - it imposed a surcharge on papers if they weighed more than 4oz.

The Guardian

Because my sister was not registered as a resident when the move occurred, the co-op has imposed a surcharge on my parents.

The New York Times

Some fear that other governments could follow suit.Squeezing natural-resources firms is hardly unprecedented even in Australia itself, which imposed a surcharge on oil exploration decades ago during a prior boom.

The Economist

Domestic round-trip air fares rose $20 in early September when all of the major airlines except Southwest imposed a surcharge that the industry said is necessary to offset the recent increase in the price of jet fuel.

The New York Times - Travel

The Birmingham (Alabama) Water Works imposed a surcharge on about 25,000 of its customers for excess water usage in June.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Mail Services no longer imposes a surcharge per piece for outgoing US Mail.

Princeton University

ACUS will continue to be cheaper than calling-card calls, which impose a surcharge.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Avis's response was to impose a surcharge on anyone 18 to 21 years old.

The New York Times

They would like to impose a surcharge for purchases made specifically with those cards — but the settlement requires retailers to impose surcharges on all cards uniformly.

The New York Times

Other major carriers that fly internationally said they did not plan to impose a surcharge at this time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "imposed a surcharge" excessively in a single document. Vary your language with synonyms like "levied an additional fee" or "added an extra charge" to improve readability and engagement.

Common error

Ensure you're using "imposed a surcharge" when referring to an extra fee added on top of existing costs, not when describing a general tax. A surcharge is typically temporary or conditional, while a tax is a broader, more permanent form of revenue collection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "imposed a surcharge" functions as a verb phrase where "imposed" is the transitive verb and "a surcharge" is the direct object. According to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically correct and widely used to describe the action of adding an extra fee or charge.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "imposed a surcharge" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the action of adding an extra fee, commonly in business, finance, and policy contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not extremely frequent, the expression is widely understood and accepted, particularly in news and media, as demonstrated by the examples from The New York Times, The Economist, and other authoritative sources. To enhance clarity, it's important to specify the reason and amount of the surcharge, and avoid overuse. Synonyms like "levied an additional fee" or "added an extra charge" can provide variety. Be sure not to confuse a "surcharge" with general taxes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

levied an additional fee

Replaces "imposed a surcharge" with a synonym for imposition and a more general term for the charge.

added an extra charge

Uses simpler language to convey the same meaning.

applied a tariff

Substitutes "surcharge" with the word "tariff", often used in international trade contexts.

placed a premium on

Emphasizes the value added by the surcharge.

assessed an additional cost

Replaces "surcharge" with "additional cost", focusing on the financial impact.

instituted a supplementary fee

Uses more formal vocabulary.

charged an additional amount

Focuses on the act of charging and specifies it is extra.

applied an uplift

Uses the term "uplift" which is common in pricing or financial contexts to indicate an increase.

introduced an additional levy

Replaces "surcharge" with "levy", often used for taxes or duties.

decreed a surtax

Implies an official or legal decision to add a tax.

FAQs

How to use "imposed a surcharge" in a sentence?

You can use "imposed a surcharge" to indicate that an additional fee has been added to a product or service. For example, "The airline "imposed a surcharge" on baggage due to rising fuel costs."

What can I say instead of "imposed a surcharge"?

Alternatives include "levied an additional fee", "added an extra charge", or "applied a tariff" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "imposed with a surcharge"?

No, the correct phrasing is "imposed a surcharge". The verb "impose" directly takes the surcharge as its object. "Imposed with a surcharge" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "imposed a surcharge" and "added a fee"?

"Imposed a surcharge" often implies that the fee is unexpected or less common, while "added a fee" is a more general term for including an extra cost. A "surcharge" is typically for a specific reason, such as rising costs.