accused

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "accused" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about someone being accused of a crime or other wrongdoing. Example Sentence: The accused was brought to trial for fraud.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It works like this: if you worry that you might be accused of an -ism, get your defence in first by asserting that the accuser is an envoy of an ivory tower elite and you are merely a tribune of the people.

The Guardian - Opinion

Cutter accused the Republican White House ticket of politicizing the issue.

The Guardian

On Thursday, the Russian president, Vladmir Putin, accused the US of meddling in a bid to undermine the 2018 World Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

Obeid was accused of failing to disclose a family interest in the cafes while lobbying to have the leases renewed without a tender process taking place, to the financial benefit of his family.

The Guardian

The motion accused him of incompetence, negligence, and a lack of interest or engagement in his portfolio and of making misleading statements in the lead-up to the bill's introduction.

The Guardian

Iranian media affiliated to the Islamic regime have been accused of using library images from different times and locations in Britain and other parts of the world to portray the UK riots as "the uprising of the oppressed against the British monarchy".

The Guardian

David Cameron was accused of revealing his ill-suppressed Bullingdon Club instincts when he shouted at the Labour frontbencher Angela Eagle to "calm down, dear" as she berated him for misleading MPs at prime minister's questions.

The Guardian

It has been controversial since it was set up under Labour, when it was accused of stigmatising Muslims – including a case in which it funded CCTV cameras in a Muslim area of Birmingham.

The Guardian

After the second world war, he spent a year and a half in prison in Denmark accused of being a collaborator.

The Guardian

In the run up to India's 2014 elections, both the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and the Congress party were were accused of hiring "political trolls" to talk favourably about them on blogs and social media.

The Guardian

Arundhati Roy, the Booker prize-winning author, recently accused Mahatma Gandhi, India's revered independence leader, of discrimination and called for institutions bearing his name to be renamed because of his attitude to caste.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accused", ensure clarity by specifying the crime or wrongdoing the person is accused of. For instance, "accused of fraud" provides more context than simply "accused".

Common error

Avoid using "accused" interchangeably with "convicted". "Accused" means someone is facing charges, while "convicted" means they have been found guilty in court. The terms are not synonymous.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "accused" is as an adjective, modifying a noun to describe someone who is facing accusations. It can also function as the past participle of the verb "accuse", as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "accused" functions primarily as an adjective or past participle, denoting someone facing allegations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news and media contexts. It's crucial to distinguish "accused" from "convicted", as they represent different stages in the legal process. When using "accused", specifying the alleged offense enhances clarity. Alternatives include "suspected of" and "charged with", varying subtly in their implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

charged with

Highlights the formal legal charge.

indicted for

Specifically refers to a formal indictment.

under suspicion

Emphasizes the state of being suspected.

suspected of

Implies a lower degree of certainty or evidence.

facing allegations of

Highlights the allegations being made.

named as a suspect

Emphasizes the identification of a suspect.

alleged perpetrator

Focuses on the allegation rather than a formal charge.

implicated in

Suggests involvement, but not necessarily a formal charge.

fingered for

Informal way of saying someone has been accused or blamed.

blamed for

Suggests culpability without formal charges.

FAQs

What is the difference between "accused" and "convicted"?

"Accused" refers to someone who has been formally charged with a crime but has not yet been proven guilty. "Convicted", on the other hand, means that a person has been found guilty of a crime in a court of law.

How do you use "accused" in a sentence?

You can use "accused" as an adjective before a noun, like in the phrase "the "accused" person", or as a verb, such as "He was "accused of fraud"".

What can I say instead of "accused"?

Depending on the context, you might use alternatives like "suspected of", "charged with", or "implicated in".

Is it appropriate to use "accused" before a person has been proven guilty?

Yes, it is appropriate to use "accused" before someone is proven guilty. It simply indicates that formal charges have been brought against them, not that they have been convicted of a crime.