What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
penalizing
Example
The company is penalizing employees who violate the dress code policy. [penalizing: verb]
Example
The government is considering penalizing companies that pollute the environment. [penalizing: gerund or present participle]
punishing
Example
The judge sentenced the criminal to a harsh punishment for his crimes. [punishment: noun]
Example
The teacher punished the student for cheating on the exam. [punished: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Punishing is more commonly used than penalizing in everyday language, especially in legal contexts. Penalizing is less common and tends to be used in more specific situations, such as enforcing policies or regulations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between penalizing and punishing?
Both penalizing and punishing can be used in formal and informal contexts, but punishing is more commonly associated with legal or official language, making it more formal in tone.
