put a penalty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "put a penalty" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is most commonly used in the context of sports or games, to indicate that a punishment or consequence will be given for breaking a rule. Example: The referee warned the player that if he continued to commit fouls, he would put a penalty on the team.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The luxury tax, agreed to in last year's collective bargaining agreement, will put a penalty on teams with higher payrolls.

The New York Times - Sports

There is no doubting that Lampard knows where to put a penalty and he stroked this one to Mark Schwarzer's right side.

Independent

When Ian Madigan put a penalty into the corner it looked like a risk, a commitment to seven points when time still allowed for three to do nicely.

The Guardian - Sport

Related: Wales 23-16 Ireland | Six Nations match report When Ian Madigan put a penalty into the corner it looked like a risk, a commitment to seven points when time still allowed for three to do nicely.

The Guardian - Sport

Cipriani missed the conversion and Miller then put a penalty attempt short.

BBC

Cipriani put a penalty attempt wide, before a melee between both sides - which was reviewed by the TMO - saw Sale's Tommy Taylor shown a yellow card.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"There is no point putting a penalty that would be thrown out by the civil courts," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

In the present study, IT and CN vary inversely, thus the modification in injection schemes and chamber geometry have to be considered without putting a penalty on another.

Energy Conversion and Management

Ford showed the signs of the difficulties to come, though, putting a penalty wide before the break and then, when Corbisiero was sin-binned for tackling after the ball had gone, he slipped another the wrong side of the posts.

BBC

"I couldn't believe they didn't put a match penalty on it".

The New York Times - Sports

However, it has experimented with them in the past; in 1972 it put a 2% penalty charge on deposits by non-residents.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions by officials or governing bodies, consider using more formal alternatives like "impose a penalty" or "assess a penalty" for enhanced clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "put a penalty" in highly formal documents or academic writing. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "apply a sanction" or "enforce a fine".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put a penalty" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "put" acts as the main verb and "a penalty" serves as the direct object. It indicates the action of imposing a consequence or punishment, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "put a penalty" is a common way to describe the act of assigning a punishment or disadvantage, especially in contexts like sports or when discussing regulatory violations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. While it is suitable for general use, more formal alternatives such as "impose a penalty" or "assess a penalty" may be preferred in professional or academic settings. The frequency of this expression is considered common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

place a penalty

Similar to "put a penalty", but uses "place" as the verb.

impose a penalty

Replaces "put" with "impose", indicating a more formal or official application of the penalty.

assess a penalty

Substitutes "put" with "assess", focusing on the evaluation and determination of the penalty.

apply a penalty

Uses "apply" instead of "put", emphasizing the implementation or enforcement of the penalty.

issue a penalty

Replaces "put" with "issue", highlighting the act of officially declaring or administering the penalty.

assign a penalty

Substitutes "put" with "assign", focusing on the attribution or allocation of the penalty.

levy a penalty

Replaces "put" with "levy", suggesting a formal or legal imposition of the penalty, often in a financial context.

inflict a penalty

Substitutes "put" with "inflict", emphasizing the negative or punitive aspect of the penalty.

hand down a penalty

Replaces "put" with "hand down", suggesting a judgment or official ruling that includes the penalty.

slap on a penalty

Informal alternative, replacing "put" with "slap on" to convey a sense of swift or perhaps excessive punishment.

FAQs

What does "put a penalty" mean in sports?

In sports, "put a penalty" means to assign a disadvantage or punishment to a player or team for violating the rules of the game. The severity can vary depending on the infraction.

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

You can use it like this: "The referee decided to "put a penalty" on the team for excessive fouling", or "The league "put a penalty" on the player for unsportsmanlike conduct".

What are some alternatives to "put a penalty"?

Some alternatives include "impose a penalty", "assess a penalty", or "apply a penalty". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "put a penalty" formal or informal?

The phrase "put a penalty" is generally considered neutral. For more formal situations, consider using phrases such as "impose a penalty" or "levy a penalty".