Be proven guilty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Be proven guilty" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct form would typically be "to be proven guilty" or "to be found guilty." Example: "In a court of law, a defendant must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, and it has become clear that they are the target of our adversaries, who seek … to sow discord and undermine our way of life". Yet what if Trump really were to be proven guilty of conspiring with a foreign power?

The Guardian - Opinion

Yes, its true that someone must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in order to be convicted, but what he does not clarify is that they must be proven guilty of the crime for which they are charged.

Duke University

"Bishop Bell cannot be proven guilty, nor can it be safely claimed that the original complainant has been discredited.

BBC

In the event, nonetheless, that a forced displacement is deemed to be illegal, those responsible must ultimately face criminal justice measures and be proven guilty in a court of law (Andreu-Guzmán 2013 et al).

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

"He was not able to be proven guilty, so he was innocent," Hecht's wife, Elizabeth, said Wednesday.

Los Angeles Times

To the editor: The idea that Kavanaugh must be proven guilty of criminal conduct for the Senate to reject his nomination to the Supreme Court is way off the mark.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

They have to be proved guilty.

The Guardian

The applicable standard for approval is not whether the nominee can be proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but whether his integrity, temperament and honesty are above question.

Los Angeles Times

"Everybody should be deemed innocent before they are proven guilty.

The Guardian - Business

"Everyone is innocent until they are proven guilty," Ghanei said.

The New Yorker

If they had been proven guilty, I wouldn't complain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using more grammatically sound alternatives such as "to be proven guilty" or "to be found guilty" in formal writing to ensure clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "be proven guilty" in formal writing. Although it appears in various sources, it's grammatically unconventional. Opt for "to be proven guilty" or "to be found guilty" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Be proven guilty" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating a state of needing to have guilt established. While Ludwig examples show its usage, Ludwig AI notes a preference for "to be proven guilty."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Be proven guilty" is used to describe the state of needing to have guilt established. Although found in sources such as The Guardian and The New York Times, Ludwig AI marks this phrasing as grammatically unconventional, suggesting alternatives like "to be proven guilty" or "be found guilty" for formal contexts. This guide has explored the phrase's usage, frequency, and potential alternatives to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Be found guilty

Focuses on the act of a verdict determining guilt.

Be convicted of

Implies a formal legal declaration of guilt.

Have one's guilt established

Emphasizes the establishment of guilt, rather than the process.

Be adjudged guilty

A more formal and legalistic way of saying 'be found guilty'.

Be declared guilty

Highlights the act of pronouncing someone guilty.

Be ruled guilty

Suggests a formal ruling or decision of guilt.

Be determined to be guilty

Emphasizes the process of determining guilt.

Be proven to be guilty

A more verbose way of expressing the establishment of guilt.

Be legally culpable

Focuses on legal responsibility and guilt.

Be shown to be guilty

Highlights the demonstration or revealing of guilt.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "Be proven guilty"?

The more grammatically accepted way is "to be proven guilty" or "be found guilty".

Is "Be proven guilty" grammatically correct?

While you may encounter the phrase "Be proven guilty" in certain contexts, it is considered grammatically incorrect. A more acceptable phrasing is "to be proven guilty".

What does "Be proven guilty" mean?

The phrase signifies that someone's guilt needs to be established through evidence or legal proceedings. However, it's better to use "to be proven guilty".

Are there other ways to express the same idea as "Be proven guilty"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "be convicted of" or "have one's guilt established", depending on the nuance you want to convey.