issue a penalty

USAGE SUMMARY

"issue a penalty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a formal way of saying that someone is being punished for a wrong or illegal action. For example, "The court issued a penalty to the driver for exceeding the speed limit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"It is inconceivable that a parliamentary committee could issue a penalty in a case of this gravity of less than 10 days' suspension.

The Guardian

David Smith, the ICO's deputy commissioner and director of data protection, said: "The decision by the ICO to issue a penalty in this case reflects its seriousness.

The Guardian

But if transport staff are unable to check the claim to their satisfaction, they will levy a fine or, for those who refuse to pay, issue a penalty notice requiring payment within ten days.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But it has not issued a penalty, saying the company has assured it the problem has been addressed.

The Guardian

The Arkansas Circuit Court judge, Tim Fox, issued a penalty of $1.19 billion for nearly 240,000 violations of the state's Medicaid fraud law; he also fined the companies $11 million for violations of the state's deceptive practices act.

The New York Times

Mr Lewis added that nothing the government has proposed would prevent a parking warden or police officer issuing a penalty in the case of genuinely dangerous parking.

BBC

The last time the state issued a penalty on a vendor was 1999.

Huffington Post

Instead of issuing a penalty interest rate for missed payments, a $28 fee is issued for each payment over 10 days late.

Huffington Post

"He continues to try to issue a death penalty to 20,000 patients".

The New York Times

Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Joan Aitken said: "Police officers can issue a financial penalty.

BBC

"The detriment caused to individuals by this breach fails to meet the level required to issue a monetary penalty," it said.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "issue a penalty", ensure the context clearly identifies who is issuing the penalty and for what specific infraction. Clarity prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid attributing the act of "issuing a penalty" to entities that lack the authority to do so. For instance, a private citizen cannot "issue a penalty"; this power is typically reserved for governing bodies or legal authorities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "issue a penalty" functions as a verb phrase, where "issue" is the main verb and "a penalty" is the direct object. It describes the act of officially declaring or imposing a punishment. This is aligned with Ludwig AI confirming the usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "issue a penalty" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that formally declares and imposes a punishment or consequence for a violation. According to Ludwig AI, it’s suitable for formal writing. Though relatively rare, its presence in news media and regulatory contexts suggests a neutral to professional tone. The related phrases such as "impose a sanction" can be used for similar scenarios. When using this phrase, it's crucial to attribute the action to the appropriate authority and ensure clarity regarding the infraction. While "issue a penalty" is a formal and precise way to describe the act of imposing a punishment, less formal options exist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impose a sanction

Replaces "penalty" with "sanction", suggesting a more formal or official action.

levy a fine

Focuses specifically on financial penalties; "levy" emphasizes the act of imposing or collecting.

administer a punishment

Uses broader term "punishment" and emphasizes the act of administering or applying the penalty.

hand down a sentence

Typically used in legal contexts, referring to a formal judgment in court.

apply a charge

Suggests adding a fee or cost as a penalty, applicable in financial or service-related contexts.

assess a forfeiture

Emphasizes the loss of something (property, rights) as a consequence; more formal and legalistic.

decree a punishment

Implies an official order or edict; more formal and authoritative.

inflict a penalty

Suggests causing suffering or hardship through the penalty.

exact retribution

Focuses on vengeance or repayment for a wrong, rather than a formal penalty.

render a verdict of guilty

Used specifically in legal settings; indicates a finding of guilt and the associated consequences.

FAQs

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

You can use "issue a penalty" to describe the act of officially imposing a punishment. For example: "The judge decided to "issue a penalty" for the crime committed".

What is a more formal way to say "issue a penalty"?

A more formal alternative to "issue a penalty" is to say "impose a sanction", which suggests an official action.

Which is correct, "issue a penalty" or "give a penalty"?

"Issue a penalty" is the more formally correct phrasing. While "give a penalty" might be understood, "issue a penalty" is more commonly used in formal contexts.

What's the difference between ""issue a penalty"" and "administer a punishment"?

"Issue a penalty" refers to the formal declaration or imposition of a punishment, while "administer a punishment" refers to the act of carrying out or enforcing the penalty.