allege

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "allege" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when someone presents an accusation, often without much evidence. Example: The executive alleged that his former assistant had stolen money from the company.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After the final whistle the odd supporter used social media to allege that Carver – whose suddenly relegation-threatened side are now only five points above the bottom three and visit renascent Leicester on Saturday – had sworn at his detractors, before issuing an invitation "outside" for a fight.

The Guardian - Sport

They would further allege that when the off-duty officer tried to intervene, he was "threatened by the man armed with the tyre lever".

The Guardian

The day had begun with Valcke facing questions over a letter that proved he had knowledge of a $10m payment to Warner which US investigators allege was a bribe.

The Guardian - Sport

His demand for and receipt of bribes, the authorities allege, was a key part of a 24-year racketeering and bribery conspiracy, dating from 1991 to 2015, which led to "endemic corruption" of Fifa itself.

The Guardian - Sport

Better late than never, José Mourinho has finally accepted it was disingenuous to allege there was a campaign among the Premier League's higher authorities to nobble Chelsea's title challenge through the kind of refereeing mistakes that invariably happen to every club over the course of the season.

The Guardian - Sport

The group of students allege that police then grabbed one of them by the neck for up to five seconds and pushed him, causing bruising.

The Guardian

The Detroit-based copyright holders allege "unauthorised use has been made of Eminem's Grammy and Academy Award-winning song Lose Yourself in election campaign advertising run by the National party in the lead-up to the 2014 New Zealand general election".

The Guardian

Amal Clooney has joined a legal team representing 11 prisoners known as the "hooded men" who allege they were tortured by the British army at the start of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

The Guardian

Prosecutors allege that Morsi encouraged the murder of protesters demonstrating outside Cairo's presidential palace last December, charges also faced by the 14 other senior officials from the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Guardian

He confirmed $10m was paid to the former Fifa official Jack Warner in 2008 but insisted it was not a bribe, as US prosecutors allege.

The Guardian - Sport

Nike has strongly defended itself against insinuations that these overpayments were a form of kickback, saying that the indictment does "not allege that Nike engaged in criminal conduct" or that "any Nike employee was aware of or knowingly participated in any bribery or kickback scheme".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "allege" to indicate an assertion of wrongdoing that has not yet been proven. Ensure you're not presenting the allegation as fact.

Common error

Avoid using "allege" in a way that suggests the accused is definitely guilty. It's crucial to maintain neutrality and acknowledge the lack of conclusive evidence.

Linguistic Context

Allege primarily functions as a verb. It is used to report an assertion or accusation, particularly one that is not yet proven. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment that the word can be used in written English. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate this function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academic & Scientific

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Allege is a verb used to state something as a fact without offering proof. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English, primarily within news and media. Its function is to report accusations while maintaining neutrality. The register tends to be neutral to formal, with high consistency in how it is used across authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist. When using "allege", it is important to clarify that the information is not yet confirmed to be true. It is best to use "allege" to avoid assuming guilt and misreporting information that could be seen as slander.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

claim

Similar to "allege", but can also refer to demanding something as one's due, a nuance not present in "allege".

aver

A more formal synonym, implying a solemn declaration. "Allege" carries a slightly stronger implication of unproven status.

assert

Emphasizes a confident and forceful statement, differing from "allege" which implies a lack of conclusive evidence.

contend

Suggests arguing or debating a point, while "allege" focuses on stating something as a fact without proof.

purport

Suggests that something appears to be the case, often falsely, whereas "allege" is more direct in its assertion.

maintain

Implies consistency in a statement over time, whereas "allege" introduces a new claim.

declare

To state something clearly and definitely, often with authority, without necessarily implying doubt like "allege".

profess

Indicates openly declaring a belief or feeling, a different connotation than the accusatory tone of "allege".

state

A neutral way of conveying information, lacking the implication of uncertainty inherent in "allege".

posit

Presents something as a hypothesis or starting point, lacking the accusatory aspect of "allege".

FAQs

How do you use "allege" in a sentence?

Use "allege" to indicate that someone has made a statement that something illegal or wrong has happened, but it has not been proven. For example: "The report "alleges" financial mismanagement."

What can I say instead of "allege"?

You can use alternatives like "claim", "assert", or "contend" depending on the context. These words each carry slightly different connotations regarding the strength and certainty of the statement.

Which is correct, "allege" or "claim"?

"Allege" and "claim" are both correct, but "allege" is typically used in formal contexts, especially legal ones, to indicate an assertion that hasn't been proven. "Claim" is a more general term.

What's the difference between "allege" and "accuse"?

"Accuse" directly implies blaming someone for something, whereas "allege" simply reports that someone has made an accusation. "Allege" focuses on the statement itself, not necessarily the person making it. For example, the newspaper might "allege" that the politician did something wrong but the prosecutor will "accuse" the politician when filing charges.