actual lawsuit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "actual lawsuit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a real legal case that is currently in progress or has been filed in a court of law. Example: "The company is facing an actual lawsuit for breach of contract, which could have significant financial implications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

There doesn't seem to be any record of an actual lawsuit.

The New Yorker

"From time to time there's posturing," he said, "but it's very rare that an actual lawsuit is commenced".

The New York Times

Loftus's self-help discovery and threat of potential action in the future are not mitigated by the existence of an actual lawsuit". Yet virtually all whistleblower cases begin this way.

Columbia University

The disclosure rules require companies to discuss only a "pending legal proceeding," so they can plausibly avoid revealing an investigation because the case has not yet ripened into an actual lawsuit.

The New York Times

The DOJ has been reportedly planning to file charges against the Royal Bank of Scotland, and last night, it filed an actual lawsuit against Standard & Poor's for misrating mortgage bonds before the financial crisis.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Judges are human and when they look at the facts of a case, if this Wells notice turns into an actual lawsuit, it will become part of the gestalt when judges weigh whether to allow cases to go forward," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

But actual lawsuits are rare.

The New York Times - Magazine

Since then, 27 more jurisdictions have sued the gun makers, but some have combined efforts, leaving 19 actual lawsuits.

The New York Times

These kinds of threats are not idle – Universal tends to follow up with actual lawsuits.

TechCrunch

Moreover, the arbitrator found, Covey failed to inform investors after the potential legal risks had turned into actual lawsuits.

Forbes

At the very least, it certainly gives me more hope for the future than sites like SueEasy, which aim to produce more, not less, actual lawsuits.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal matters, be precise. Specify the type of lawsuit if possible (e.g., "actual lawsuit for breach of contract") for better understanding.

Common error

Don't use "actual lawsuit" when it's already clear from the context that a lawsuit is real and not hypothetical. For example, avoid saying "the actual lawsuit trial" when "the trial" suffices.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "actual lawsuit" functions as a noun phrase, where "actual" modifies the noun "lawsuit". It specifies that the lawsuit is not hypothetical or threatened but currently in progress. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in legal and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "actual lawsuit" is a grammatically correct and meaningful term used to describe a legal case that has been formally filed and is currently active. Ludwig AI confirms this. It serves to differentiate ongoing cases from potential or threatened legal actions. Common in news and academic writing, it maintains a neutral register and should be used when emphasizing the present reality of a legal situation. Avoid redundancy by ensuring the context doesn't already imply the lawsuit's reality. Remember to specify the lawsuit's type when possible for better clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

real legal case

Focuses on the reality of the legal action, rather than whether it was merely threatened.

pending litigation

Emphasizes that the lawsuit is currently ongoing.

ongoing legal action

Highlights that the legal process is in progress.

current legal proceedings

Formal way to indicate ongoing legal actions.

active lawsuit

Indicates the lawsuit is not settled or dismissed.

existing legal dispute

Highlights the disagreement that is subject to legal processes.

live litigation

Informal and emphasizes the immediacy of the legal process.

court case in progress

Descriptive and straightforward way to say lawsuit is happening now.

formal complaint

Refers to a filed complaint initiating a legal process.

instituted suit

A formal and slightly archaic way of saying a lawsuit has been started.

FAQs

How can I use "actual lawsuit" in a sentence?

You can use "actual lawsuit" to emphasize that a legal case has been formally filed, differentiating it from potential or threatened legal actions. For example, "The company is facing an "actual lawsuit" for patent infringement".

What is the difference between "actual lawsuit" and "potential lawsuit"?

"Actual lawsuit" refers to a case that has already been filed in court, whereas "potential lawsuit" refers to a case that is being considered but has not yet been filed. The former is a present reality, the latter a future possibility.

What can I say instead of "actual lawsuit"?

You can use alternatives like "real legal case", "pending litigation", or "ongoing legal action" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the term "actual lawsuit"?

It's appropriate to use "actual lawsuit" when you need to stress that a threatened legal action has materialized into a real court case. This is particularly useful when contrasting it with mere threats or preliminary investigations.