petty offense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "petty offense" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a minor crime or violation of the law. Example: "The man received a fine for his petty offense of littering in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

(The company pleaded guilty to a "petty offense" and paid a thousand-dollar fine).

The New Yorker

The shame of it all, and for such a petty offense.

The New York Times

He might have belittled the petty offense that had occurred, so slight it was when you put it beside the betrayal of a Church and the shaming of Ireland's priesthood and the priesthood everywhere.

The New Yorker

Justice John Paul Stevens dissented, saying the Illinois court correctly "placed a higher value on the sanctity of the ordinary citizen's home than on the prosecution of this petty offense".

The New York Times

It's wrong to wish someone else be fired for a petty offense.

Vice

One of the few good things about the avalanche of wokeness is relinquishing yourself of petty offense.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

A class of minor offenses that may be described as petty offenses or quasi-crimes is also recognized.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Merriwether had a criminal history, with 17 arrests, mostly for petty offenses, dating to 1975.

The New York Times

Some contend that such petty offenses lead to more serious crimes.

The New York Times

Police officers, they contend, are arresting growing numbers of people for increasingly petty offenses.

The New York Times

We should also analyze criminal laws to determine which petty offenses can be reclassified or removed without affecting public safety.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or official matters, use "petty offense" to clearly indicate the minor nature of the crime or violation. This distinguishes it from more serious offenses.

Common error

Avoid using "petty offense" in casual conversation or informal writing, where simpler terms like "minor mistake" or "small issue" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "petty offense" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific type of infraction, as illustrated by Ludwig's examples, and is usually associated with legal or formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "petty offense" is a noun phrase used to describe a minor violation of the law or a minor wrongdoing. It is grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in legal and journalistic contexts. As shown by Ludwig, while the phrase is considered accurate and appropriate by its AI, it's recommended to avoid overusing "petty offense" in very informal contexts and consider using simpler terms like "minor mistake" or "small issue". Some good alternatives for "petty offense" are "minor infraction", "trivial violation", or "slight transgression".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor infraction

Replaces "offense" with "infraction", suggesting a slight deviation from rules or laws.

trivial violation

Substitutes both "petty" and "offense" with synonyms emphasizing insignificance and a breach of rules.

slight transgression

Emphasizes the minor nature of the wrongdoing, using more formal language.

insignificant misdemeanor

Focuses on the legal classification of the offense as a minor crime.

small misdeed

Uses more informal language to describe a minor act of wrongdoing.

paltry violation

Replaces "petty" with "paltry", highlighting the insignificance of the offense.

minor breach

General term indicating a slight breaking of a rule or law.

trifling infraction

Highlights the negligible nature of the offense with emphasis on its unimportance.

light infringement

Indicates a mild form of violation, usually in a legal or regulatory context.

technicality

Refers to a minor, often overlooked detail that constitutes a violation.

FAQs

How can I use "petty offense" in a sentence?

You can use "petty offense" to describe a minor violation of the law or a minor wrongdoing. For example, "The defendant was charged with a "petty offense" such as jaywalking".

What's a good alternative to "petty offense"?

Alternatives include "minor infraction", "trivial violation", or "slight transgression", depending on the context and the level of formality required.

Is "petty offense" a legal term?

Yes, "petty offense" is often used in legal contexts to refer to minor crimes that typically carry lighter penalties, such as fines or short jail sentences.

What distinguishes a "petty offense" from a misdemeanor or felony?

A "petty offense" is the least serious type of crime, typically involving minimal penalties. Misdemeanors are more serious than "petty offenses" but less serious than felonies, which are the most severe category of crimes.