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Koji from Japan Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Executions / the death penalty

I found the sentence below in an article. Don’t “executions” and “the death penalty” mean the same thing?


Today, Amnesty continues to work for the release of prisoners of conscience, for fair trials and for an end to torture, executions and the death penalty.

  

Top answer

While the word 'execution' is often used for the 'legal' killing of somebody after a death sentence has been imposed, the word is sometimes used for any ritualised killing of somebody who has offended somebody powerful enough to order this. 'Death penalty' may simply refer to the existence of the practice. The death penalty for certain crimes was not abolished in the UK until 1998, though the last execution took place in 1964.

— Fivejedjon

  • While the word 'execution' is often used for the 'legal' killing of somebody after a death sentence has been imposed, the word is sometimes used for any ritualised killing of somebody who has offended somebody powerful enough to order this.
  • 'Death penalty' may simply refer to the existence of the practice.
  • The death penalty for certain crimes was not abolished in the UK until 1998, though the last execution took place in 1964.
  • Thus, for 34 years, executions did not take place, although the death penalty existed.
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2 Answers
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While the word 'execution' is often used for the 'legal' killing of somebody after a death sentence has been imposed, the word is sometimes used for any ritualised killing of somebody who has offended somebody powerful enough to order this.

'Death penalty' may simply refer to the existence of the practice. The death penalty for certain crimes was not abolished in the UK until 1998, tho

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In the US, the death penalty is in the laws of 30 states and 20 states have abolished the death penalty.

If you commit intentional murder in a state with the death penalty, It means that you can be sentenced to be executed.

https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-de

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