Do you have different degrees of punishment for the same offense?

For example if my child hits another, but I don't feel it's too hard or particularly agressive, he gets disciplined verbally and is made to apologize. If I feel it's particularly bad or malicious or purposeful, then he gets a time out followed by a very stern talking to and then he apologizes.

Is that wrong? Should I be more consistent, like every incidence of hitting gets a time out? What do you guys do? I just feel like if every incident got a time out, there'd be no understanding when something is REALLY bad, KWIM?

Re: Do you have different degrees of punishment for the same offense?

My DD is age 3 and I am consistent across the board right now with punishment...............it's always a 3 min. time out. I think she is still too young to get the concept of a harsher crime/harsher punishment. Although, in reality, she really doesn't do anything so bad so 3 min. to chill out is perfect. By the time her 3 min is up she apologizes and moves on.