alleged

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "alleged" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is claimed or asserted to be the case, often without proof. Example: "The alleged thief was apprehended by the police after a brief chase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The nascent Japanese whisky industry was built on Scottish components: Scottish stills, Scottish barley and even, it is alleged, Scottish water, were shipped to Japan.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As for the alleged link back to Scottish health spending, while total block grants from Whitehall are indeed connected to overall English public service spending, Holyrood has sweeping autonomy over where the money goes.

The Guardian - Opinion

A detailed affidavit, written by Andrew McAleer, alleged Rice engaged in a "pattern of intimidation and violence" between 2012 and 2013 against the McAleers following a custody dispute between Karyn McAleer and Rice, who have a young child together from their previous relationship.

The Guardian

On Tuesday, the Guardian reported a further complaint made against the lieutenant in September 2013 by Andrew McAleer, the husband of Rice's former partner Karyn McAleer, who alleged he witnessed Rice holding Karyn's stolen mail and attempting to throw it into a public garbage can.

The Guardian

Detectives are presently following 400 lines of inquiry, while the BBC has launched an inquiry into the culture and practices at the corporation in the era of Savile's alleged sexual abuse.

The Guardian

Collins said it was conceivable that lawyers acting for alleged victims would take legal action to compel police forces to hand over their files on Savile.

The Guardian

One prominent figure on trial is businessman Oswald Lutepo, a senior official in Banda's party, who is accused of theft and money laundering and is alleged to have pocketed more than $6m from government coffers through ghost companies that did not provide any services to the state.

The Guardian

Prosecutors alleged she died after being denied food and locked in her room.

The Guardian

The court of appeal found the alleged conduct surrounding Tilley's crash did not fall within Icac's definition of corrupt conduct.

The Guardian

France has been pressuring the Palestinians to amend the resolution to make it clear that Israel could not be taken to the ICC retroactively for any alleged war crimes committed before the UN votes to recognise Palestinian statehood.

The Guardian

It is alleged he conspired with the extremist preacher Abu Hamza in 1999 to establish a terror camp in Oregon.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "alleged," ensure you are not presenting the unproven claim as fact.

Common error

Avoid using "alleged" to imply certainty or guilt. It should only indicate that a claim has been made but not substantiated.

Linguistic Context

The word "alleged" functions as an adjective, modifying a noun to indicate that a claim or assertion has been made but not yet proven. As Ludwig highlights, it's crucial to acknowledge that the claim remains unverified, as shown in the examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "alleged" is used as an adjective to describe something that is claimed to be the case, but has not been proven. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in news and media to maintain neutrality. When writing, it's crucial to use "alleged" to avoid presenting unverified claims as facts and recognize that it indicates caution not certainty. Be careful not to replace actual evidences with it. Related terms like "purported" and "ostensible" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

purported

Indicates something is claimed to be true but may not be.

ostensible

Appears to be true but may conceal a different reality.

professed

Openly declared but possibly insincere or untrue.

so-called

Used to express doubt or disagreement about a term.

reputed

Widely believed to be true, but not necessarily proven.

stated

Formally declared, but the truth is not confirmed.

unconfirmed

Not yet verified as true or accurate.

supposed

Assumed to be true, often without sufficient evidence.

presumed

Taken for granted to be true, though not proven.

dubious

Of uncertain or questionable quality or truth.

FAQs

How do you use "alleged" in a sentence?

Use "alleged" to describe something that is claimed to be true but has not been proven, such as "The "alleged thief" was apprehended" or "The "alleged crime" took place last night".

What's the difference between "alleged" and "accused"?

"Accused" indicates that someone has been formally charged with a crime, while "alleged" simply means that a claim has been made but not proven. You can say, "The "accused criminal" pleaded not guilty", and "The "alleged crime" took place at 10 PM".

What can I say instead of "alleged"?

You can use alternatives like "purported", "ostensible", or "so called" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the alleged victim"?

Yes, it is correct to say "the "alleged victim"" to indicate that someone claims to be a victim, but their status has not been definitively confirmed through legal or investigative processes.