placed a ban

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "placed a ban" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of officially prohibiting something or someone from doing something. Example: "The government has placed a ban on the sale of certain pesticides due to environmental concerns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

He placed a ban on witchcraft books.

The New Yorker

Mr. Wilson stopped all British exports to Rhodesia, placed a ban on imports.

The New Yorker

India has placed a ban of trading futures in some crops and is considering extending it to other commodities.

The Economist

Nonetheless, in response to Indonesian conservatives' angry reaction to public showings of "The Look of Silence," the Institute placed a ban on commercial showings of the film.

The New Yorker

TMG has put on hold the annual pay review due in March and placed a ban on all but "imperative" recruitment.

The Guardian

In addition, Russia's consumer watchdog, which has been known to wield import bans for political purposes, placed a ban on some fruits and vegetables from EU member Poland.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

She served her apprenticeship in San Francisco, which in 2007 became the first city in America to place a ban on plastic grocery and retail-store bags.

The New Yorker

Sydney's liquor restrictions also prevent people from standing on the footpath outside the pub with their drink, and place a ban on ordering shots after midnight.

The Guardian

In another sign of mounting international anger, the EU is considering placing a ban on Syrian oil exports, which account for 25% of the country's economy.

The Guardian

Section 44, which disallows dual citizens from holding office, also places a ban on MPs receiving direct, or indirect benefit from the commonwealth.

The Guardian

Although the rules place a ban on abortion, they nevertheless permit procedures that could result in fetal death if the purpose is to prevent "a proportionately serious pathological condition of a pregnant woman".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "placed a ban" with specific dates or events to enhance the context: 'The city council placed a ban on plastic bags effective January 1, 2026.'

Common error

Avoid using singular verbs with plural subjects when describing who "placed a ban". For example, avoid saying 'The companies places a ban,' and instead use 'The companies placed a ban'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "placed a ban" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the action of officially prohibiting something. It typically consists of a transitive verb ("placed") followed by a noun phrase ("a ban"). Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "placed a ban" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe the act of imposing a restriction or prohibition. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts from news and media to scientific reports. When using the phrase, ensure clarity regarding who is imposing the ban and on what. While alternatives like "imposed a restriction" or "instituted a prohibition" exist for more formal settings, "placed a ban" is generally suitable for neutral to professional communication. Remember to maintain correct subject-verb agreement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

imposed a restriction

Replaces 'ban' with 'restriction', focusing on the limiting aspect.

instituted a prohibition

Uses a more formal term, 'prohibition', for 'ban', and 'instituted' for 'placed'.

enacted a law against

Focuses on the legal aspect of implementing a ban.

decreed a ban

Implies a formal and authoritative declaration.

laid down a restriction

Emphasizes the official and formal nature of the restriction.

set a limitation

Highlights the establishment of a limit on something.

ordered a moratorium

Specifically refers to a temporary prohibition of an activity.

put a stop to

Uses a more informal expression for halting an activity.

outlawed

A single verb replacing the phrase for a more concise expression.

prohibited

A single verb replacement which is more formal and direct.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "placed a ban" in a formal context?

In formal contexts, you can substitute "placed a ban" with alternatives such as "instituted a prohibition" or "imposed a restriction", which offer a more elevated tone.

What verbs can be used instead of "placed" in the phrase "placed a ban"?

Synonymous verbs to "placed" in this context include "imposed", "enacted", or "instituted". For example, "The government "imposed a ban"" is a valid alternative.

Is it more appropriate to say "placed a ban on" or "banned"?

Both are correct, but "banned" is more concise. "The city "banned" smoking in public places" is shorter than "The city placed a ban on smoking in public places".

What's the difference between "placed a ban" and "lifted a ban"?

"Placed a ban" means to initiate or impose a restriction, while "lifted a ban" means to remove or revoke a restriction that was previously in place. They are antonyms.