Discipline vs Please don't punish the boy

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Discipline

Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun

Please don't punish the boy

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Discipline
 DisciplinePlease don't punish the boy
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɪsəplɪn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɪsəplɪn/"]/🇬🇧 //pliːz doʊnt ˈpʌnɪʃ ðə bɔɪ//🇺🇸 //pliːz doʊnt ˈpʌnɪʃ ðə bɔɪ//
MeaningThe practice of training people to follow rules and control their behavior.Don't make the boy pay for his mistakes.
ExampleMaintaining discipline in the classroom is essential for effective learning.Please don't punish the boy for making a small mistake.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationseffective, firm, good, enforce, exercise, impose, problem, a breach of discipline, a breakdown in discipline, a breakdown of discipline, good, great, strict, have, show, lack, a lack of discipline, good, great, strict, have, show, lack, a lack of discipline, core, main, major, across disciplines, within a/​the discipline, different disciplines, diverse disciplines, multiple disciplinespunish severely, punish for a crime, punish swiftly, punish harshly, punish someone unfairly
Antonymschaos, disorder, indulgence-
Common mistakesConfusing 'discipline' with 'punishment'., Using 'discipline' as a verb incorrectly., Not recognizing the noun and verb forms.Confused with 'punish' vs 'penalize'., Mixing up 'boy' with gender-neutral terms., Not using 'please' for politeness.
Usage notesUsed in both educational and professional contexts. It may sound strict in some settings, so it's less appropriate in casual conversations.This phrase is often used when asking for mercy or understanding. It's appropriate in everyday conversation but can be seen as formal in some contexts.

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Discipline
Please don't punish the boy

Frequently asked questions: Discipline vs Please don't punish the boy

What's the difference between Discipline and Please don't punish the boy?

Discipline: The practice of training people to follow rules and control their behavior. Please don't punish the boy: Don't make the boy pay for his mistakes.

Which is more common: Discipline and Please don't punish the boy?

Discipline is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Discipline: Maintaining discipline in the classroom is essential for effective learning. Please don't punish the boy: Please don't punish the boy for making a small mistake.

Can I use Discipline and Please don't punish the boy interchangeably?

Not always. Discipline and Please don't punish the boy are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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