increasing penalties for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increasing penalties for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of making penalties more severe for specific actions or offenses. Example: "The government is considering increasing penalties for those who violate environmental regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

It has also changed several laws, including increasing penalties for breaches of intervention orders.

The Guardian

As governor, Spitzer signed a law increasing penalties for clients of prostitutes (PDF).

The Guardian - Opinion

Republican proposals focus on limiting medical claims and increasing penalties for fraud; Democrats want to curb insurers' rates.

The New York Times

He signed legislation increasing penalties for crimes motivated by bigotry and raised spending on legal services for the poor.

The New York Times

Last month, New Mexico became the 15th state to enact a law increasing penalties for attacks on referees.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Davis's office announced, for example, that the governor had signed three bills increasing penalties for securities and accounting fraud.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Increase penalties for straw purchases of guns.

The New York Times

And it increases penalties for repeat sexual offenders.

The New York Times

It also plans to increase penalties for gun smuggling.

The Guardian

Six states increased penalties for dog and other animal fighting.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"They don't like to increase penalties for people who commit crimes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "increasing penalties for", consider specifying the type of penalty, such as fines, imprisonment, or other sanctions. This provides greater context and impact to the statement.

Common error

Don't use "increasing penalties for" without clarifying the specific context or actions. For example, instead of just saying "The city is increasing penalties for offenses," specify "The city is increasing penalties for illegal parking and noise violations."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasing penalties for" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun modifier. It commonly appears in legal, political, and social contexts. Ludwig AI shows that this construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "increasing penalties for" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the act of making punishments more severe. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts, especially within legal, political, and social discussions. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the actions to which the increased penalties apply. Consider alternatives such as "raising penalties for" or "escalating penalties for" to add nuance to your writing. Always clarify the type of penalty (fines, imprisonment, etc.) for maximum impact. The phrase maintains a neutral tone, fitting formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

raising penalties for

Uses a different verb ("raising" instead of "increasing") to convey the same meaning.

escalating penalties for

Replaces "increasing" with "escalating", implying a gradual and progressive increase in penalties.

toughening penalties for

Uses "toughening" to suggest making penalties more severe or strict.

enhancing penalties for

Replaces "increasing" with "enhancing", suggesting an improvement or augmentation of the penalties.

stiffening penalties for

Employs "stiffening" to indicate making penalties more rigid and less lenient.

boosting penalties for

Uses "boosting" to suggest a more significant or impactful increase in penalties.

making penalties more severe for

Rephrases the concept using a more descriptive and less direct approach.

imposing harsher penalties for

Focuses on the act of "imposing" and uses "harsher" to describe the nature of the penalties.

amplifying penalties for

Implies increasing penalties in the sense of multiplying their effect or reach.

beefing up penalties for

Uses a more informal, colloquial expression to convey the idea of strengthening penalties.

FAQs

What's a synonym for "increasing penalties for"?

Alternatives include "raising penalties for", "escalating penalties for", or "toughening penalties for".

How do I use "increasing penalties for" in a sentence?

You can say, "The government is considering increasing penalties for tax evasion" or "The new law focuses on increasing penalties for environmental violations".

Is it better to say "increasing punishments for" or "increasing penalties for"?

While both can be used, "increasing penalties for" is generally preferred in formal contexts such as legal or regulatory writing. "Punishments" may sound less formal. Consider also "increasing punishments for".

What's the difference between "increasing penalties for" and "strengthening penalties for"?

"Increasing penalties for" implies making the existing penalties quantitatively higher (e.g., raising fines). "Strengthening penalties for" suggests enhancing the overall impact and effectiveness of the penalties, which may or may not involve a numerical increase. It may require "strengthen penalties for".