issue a fine

USAGE SUMMARY

"issue a fine" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use the phrase when talking about a government or official issuing a penalty, such as a monetary fine or penalty for a crime or misdemeanour. Example sentence: The court issued a fine of £500 to the defendant for his breach of contract.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

New rules introduced in April lowered the threshold to issue a fine against companies making calls.

Independent

The only change is that previously, only the IFC would issue a fine if dry rush rules were broken.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The DEC can still issue a fine if a water quality violation occurs on the site, even if no permit is required.

Cornell University

Although not all Buddhist clothing is outlawed for driving purposes, it's up to the discretion of the police officer to issue a fine, according to the Yomiuri.

The Washington Post

After a hearing, an administrative judge can order a business to pay restitution, issue a fine or even revoke the contractor's license.

The New York Times

A local council can issue a fine of £60, which rises to £120 if the parent does not pay within 21 days.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The Eagles issued a fine of an undisclosed amount.

The New York Times - Sports

The N.B.A. issued a fine and a harsh statement.

The New York Times - Sports

(If it stayed on the sidewalk, the city could have issued a fine).

The New York Times

Technically, breach of a CPN could result in a court – not the city council – issuing a fine.

The Guardian

And she said it had never issued a fine to a water supplier that violated the cap.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about fines, specify the issuing authority to provide clarity and context (e.g., "The court issued a fine", instead of just "They issued a fine").

Common error

Avoid using passive voice constructions like "A fine was issued", which can obscure who is responsible for issuing the fine. Instead, use active voice to clearly identify the issuer: "The regulator issued a fine".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "issue a fine" functions as a verb phrase where "issue" is the verb and "a fine" is the direct object. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "issue a fine" is a commonly used and grammatically correct verb phrase that describes the act of imposing a monetary penalty. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, especially when discussing legal or regulatory actions. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources, but also has significant presence in Academic and Scientific contexts. While alternatives like "levy a fine" and "impose a penalty" exist, "issue a fine" maintains a versatile and formal tone suitable for a variety of professional and neutral registers. It is important to specify the issuing authority and avoid passive voice to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

levy a fine

Replaces "issue" with "levy", indicating a formal imposition of a fine.

impose a penalty

Uses "impose" instead of "issue", broadening the term from just fines to penalties in general.

administer a fine

Emphasizes the administrative aspect of issuing a fine, suggesting a procedural action.

charge a fine

Replaces the verb "issue" with "charge", indicating the act of billing for the fine.

exact a fine

Focuses on the enforcement aspect, implying the fine is being demanded or extracted.

assess a fine

Focuses on the evaluation and determination of the amount of the fine.

hand down a fine

Suggests a judicial or authoritative decision to issue a fine.

assign a fine

Indicates a formal allocation of a fine to a specific individual or entity.

slap with a fine

An informal way of saying someone received a fine. Emphasizes the sudden or unexpected nature of the fine.

decree a fine

Implies a formal and authoritative declaration of a fine.

FAQs

How can I use "issue a fine" in a sentence?

You can use "issue a fine" to describe the act of officially imposing a monetary penalty. For example, "The city council can "issue a fine" for noise violations".

What are some alternatives to "issue a fine"?

Alternatives include "levy a fine", "impose a penalty", or "assess a fine", depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Which is more formal, "issue a fine" or "slap with a fine"?

"Issue a fine" is more formal and appropriate for official documents and reports. "Slap with a fine" is an informal expression that should be avoided in formal writing.

What's the difference between "issue a fine" and "pay a fine"?

"Issue a fine" refers to the act of imposing the fine by an authority, whereas "pay a fine" refers to the act of settling the debt by the person or entity who received the fine.