imposing a burden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "imposing a burden" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of placing a responsibility or difficulty on someone or something. Example: "The new regulations are imposing a burden on small businesses, making it harder for them to operate efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Local authorities complain the rising influx of immigrants is imposing a burden on public services, while the government has been criticised over its failure to account for the true number of foreign workers in the UK.

The Guardian

Will we continue under the current approach or decide to provide community-based care to those who require it without bankrupting them and imposing a burden on their caregivers?

The New York Times

Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the 6-to-3 majority, said the law violates First Amendment rights by imposing a "burden on protected expression" on specific speakers (drug marketers) and specific speech (information about the doctors and what they prescribed).

The New York Times

Can courts ignore the First Amendment and the Copyright Clause and amend the copyright statute "by judicial action" and do what Congress cannot: Empower publishers to leverage their single-source-monopoly into a licensing scheme by imposing a burden on books in the form of parodic copyright notices so that they can exercise copyright censorship over materials that students must have for learning?

Stanford University

The court's 4-to-2 decision held that the notice requirement, enacted and signed by Gov. Christine Todd Whitman last year, violated the equal protection guarantee of the New Jersey Constitution by imposing a burden on minors seeking abortions that it did not impose on those who continue their pregnancies.

The New York Times

In its 4-to-2 decision overturning the original law, the State Supreme Court, which has voted consistently to protect abortion rights, said the measure violated the equal protection guarantees of the State Constitution by imposing a burden on teenage girls seeking abortions that was not imposed on those seeking to continue pregnancies.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Inaction imposes a burden on consumers.

The New York Times

Amateurs impose a burden on Metro-North personnel in other ways.

The New York Times

"That imposes a burden on the prosecutor to represent the accused as well as the state".

The New York Times

An arrest should not impose a burden greater than a conviction.

The Washington Post

2. RFRA doesn't exclude laws which impose a burden on closely held religious corporations.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "imposing a burden", clearly identify who or what is being burdened and the nature of the burden. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences in a way that obscures who is doing the imposing. Active voice often makes the sentence more direct and impactful. For instance, instead of "A burden was imposed by the regulations", use "The regulations imposed a burden".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "imposing a burden" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the act of placing a responsibility, obligation, or difficulty on someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "imposing a burden" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for describing the act of placing a responsibility or difficulty on someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage and wide applicability. While the phrase is most commonly found in news, scientific, and academic sources, it maintains a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly identify both the agent imposing the burden and the recipient, ensuring clarity and impact. Alternatives like "placing a strain" or "creating a hardship" can provide nuanced variations depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Placing a strain

Focuses on the pressure or tension created rather than the load itself.

Creating a hardship

Emphasizes the difficulty and suffering caused.

Levying a toll

Implies a cost or sacrifice extracted.

Adding an encumbrance

Highlights the obstruction or hindrance caused.

Putting a constraint

Focuses on the limitation or restriction imposed.

Inflicting an imposition

Highlights the act of enforcing something.

Causing an inconvenience

Emphasizes the disruption and trouble created.

Foisting a responsibility

Suggests an unwanted duty being passed on.

Saddling with obligation

Highlights the feeling of being weighed down by duty.

Laying a claim

Indicates asserting a right or demand that can be burdensome.

FAQs

How can I use "imposing a burden" in a sentence?

You can use "imposing a burden" to describe something that creates difficulty or responsibility for someone or something else. For example, "The new taxes are "imposing a burden" on small businesses".

What are some alternatives to "imposing a burden"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "placing a strain", "creating a hardship", or "levying a toll".

Is it better to say "imposing a burden on" or "burdening"?

Both are correct, but "imposing a burden on" is often used when you want to emphasize the act of placing the burden, while "burdening" directly describes the state of being burdened. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "imposing a burden" and "adding a responsibility"?

"Imposing a burden" often implies a negative impact or difficulty, while "adding a responsibility" is more neutral and simply indicates an additional duty. A responsibility can be welcome, whereas a burden is generally unwelcome.