severe fine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severe fine" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or harsh monetary penalty imposed for a violation or offense. Example: "The company faced a severe fine for violating environmental regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Consumer Affairs Victoria told the federal court last week that the agency should face a severe fine.

The Guardian - Business

In proportion to Deloitte's total revenue in the country, it is the most severe fine Spain has ever imposed on a Big Five auditing firm, analysts said.

The New York Times

Although many people drive distracted, by texting and using apps on smartphones, I don't think anyone would be surprised if a driver who killed someone while texting and driving, was subject to criminal penalties, a severe fine, jail-time, and additionally a civil lawsuit.

Huffington Post

Subjects all had at least mildly severe fine wrinkling and mottled hyperpigmentation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

If Google had lost on several counts of the case, it could have been subject to severe fines or been forced to let Oracle in on future developments of Android.

The New York Times

(They faced severe fines and penalties — sometimes death — if they defied the interdiction).

The New York Times

Sellers of oversize plots have been warned of severe fines, as much as 300 times the plot's price.

The New York Times

But as a step in the right direction, stores that fail to sweep the sidewalks in front of them could be heavily penalized, with particularly severe fines for the big chains.

The New York Times

An angry FISA court could demand increasingly severe fines, identify more and more officers for jail time, and make it impossible for Facebook to operate within the United States by issuing more (and more invasive) warrants.

The New Yorker

He said companies faced severe fines or closure if they failed to comply with new rules on payment of wages, standards of accommodation and other aspects of the employment of migrant workers in the hyper-wealthy Gulf emirate.

The Guardian

The new rule aimed to limit the total of time a property could be rented to just 75 days a year, imposing severe fines for those breaking the rules.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "severe fine", ensure the context clearly indicates the magnitude and impact of the monetary penalty. Use it when the fine is notably higher than average or has significant consequences for the affected party.

Common error

Avoid using "severe fine" when a simpler term like "fine" or "penalty" suffices. Reserving "severe" for truly significant financial impositions adds impact to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe fine" functions as a noun phrase, where "severe" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "fine". It describes the intensity or magnitude of the monetary penalty.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "severe fine" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes a significant monetary penalty. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts and in scientific papers. While "severe fine" isn't very common, its impact comes from emphasizing the seriousness of the financial repercussion. Alternatives like "hefty fine" or "substantial fine" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. Remember to reserve the term for situations where the fine is notably large or carries significant consequences, avoiding overuse in less impactful contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hefty fine

Replaces "severe" with "hefty", indicating a large amount of money.

substantial fine

Emphasizes the considerable size of the fine.

significant penalty

Uses "penalty" instead of "fine", broadening the scope to include non-monetary repercussions.

harsh penalty

Substitutes "severe" with "harsh", stressing the punitive nature of the fine.

stiff penalty

Replaces "severe" with "stiff", highlighting the strictness of the financial imposition.

major fine

Uses "major" to convey the importance and impact of the fine.

crippling fine

Indicates that the fine is so large that it causes significant damage.

exorbitant fine

Implies that the fine is unreasonably high.

punitive fine

Focuses on the fine's purpose as a form of punishment.

onerous fine

Stresses the burdensome nature of the fine.

FAQs

How can I use "severe fine" in a sentence?

You can use "severe fine" to describe a significant monetary penalty. For example, "The company faced a severe fine for violating environmental regulations."

What are some alternatives to "severe fine"?

You can use alternatives like "hefty fine", "substantial fine", or "significant penalty" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "severe fine" and "heavy fine"?

While both phrases indicate a large monetary penalty, "severe fine" often implies that the fine is not only large but also has significant repercussions. A "heavy fine" simply indicates a large amount of money.

Which is correct, "severe fine" or "severely fine"?

"Severe fine" is the correct phrase. "Severely" is an adverb and would not be used to directly modify the noun "fine". You could say someone was "severely fined", where "severely" modifies the verb "fined".