penalized

USAGE SUMMARY

"penalized" is a correct word in written English and is commonly used.
It means to be punished or suffer a penalty for wrongdoing or breaking rules. Example: The player was penalized with a yellow card for a foul during the soccer match.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On his final solve, he had been penalized two seconds because his puzzle had been misaligned by slightly more than the allowable limit.

The Guardian - Tech

Staff saw that conforming assessments were not penalized, even if proven faulty.Why?

The Economist

The No Child Left Behind Act is a zero sum game, either pass the test or prepare to be boarded.In Hawaii, another state heavily penalized by the No Child Left Behind Act, 34 percent of schools reached their targets, known as Adequate Yearly Progress AYPProgress AYP

The Economist

Teacher's today are required to teach to the middle and if the middle is below the standards set by No Child Left Behind, they are penalized.

The Economist

By cutting them out of the process and demanding a one-size-fits-all approach to learning, school districts with few resources will be penalized and school districts with immigrant students will be double penalized.

The Economist

Any factory that emitted more than a specified amount of carbon dioxide would be penalized unless it covered the excess by purchasing "carbon credits" from other factories that emitted less than their allowance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The researchers pointed out that "cheating" partners were penalized and generous partners were rewarded.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Dangerous and reckless play and riding (such as sandwiching a player between two others) are not allowed, and offenders may be penalized or disqualified from the match.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although by law a fili could be penalized for abuse of the áer, belief in its powers was strong and continued to modern times.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Within that cap, emission rights are allocated to the polluters, and emissions produced beyond those rights are penalized.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The success of minor parties varies considerably; small centrist parties usually benefit from the vote transfers, but small extremist parties usually are penalized.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "penalized", ensure the context clearly indicates what rule or standard was violated and what the penalty is. For example, "The team was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a 15-yard penalty."

Common error

Avoid using "penalized" in situations where there is no specific rule or standard being broken. For example, instead of saying "The business was penalized by the economy", consider alternatives like "The business suffered due to the economic downturn".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "penalized" is as the past participle of the verb "penalize". It is often used in passive voice constructions to indicate that a subject has received a penalty. Ludwig shows many examples of such usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

41%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "penalized" functions as the past participle of the verb "penalize", indicating the imposition of a penalty for violating a rule or standard. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and frequently used. Its usage spans across various contexts, with high occurrences in encyclopedias and news & media sources. While alternatives like "punished" or "sanctioned" exist, "penalized" is specifically useful when referring to a particular rule or regulation being broken. When using "penalized", ensure clarity regarding the violated rule and the resulting penalty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

punished

Direct synonym; refers to the infliction of a penalty or suffering.

sanctioned

Implies an official penalty or disapproval.

fined

Specifically refers to a monetary penalty.

disciplined

Suggests a corrective action, often within an organization or system.

reprimanded

A formal expression of disapproval.

chastised

Suggests a scolding or rebuke.

taken to task

Idiomatic expression for being criticized or held accountable.

suffered consequences

Broader term indicating negative repercussions.

held accountable

Focuses on being responsible for one's actions and their outcomes.

subjected to penalty

Formal and explicit description of facing a penalty.

FAQs

How is "penalized" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "penalized" indicates that someone or something has received a punishment or sanction for violating a rule or standard. For example, "The driver was penalized for speeding."

What are some alternatives to using "penalized"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "punished", "sanctioned", "fined", or "disciplined".

When is it appropriate to use "penalized" instead of "punished"?

"Penalized" is most appropriate when referring to a specific rule or regulation that has been violated, while "punished" is a more general term for inflicting a penalty.

Can an inanimate object be "penalized"?

Yes, inanimate objects can be "penalized" in the sense that actions can be taken against them as a result of a violation. For instance, "The company's stock price was penalized due to poor earnings."