apprehend a criminal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "apprehend a criminal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to law enforcement or discussions about crime and justice. Example: "The police were able to apprehend a criminal who had been evading capture for months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"But we also have to be able to go to a crime in progress and apprehend a criminal without hurting ourselves.

The New York Times

The civil rights organization reaffirmed its battle against police brutality, but added, "We favor the use of whatever force is necessary to stop a crime or to apprehend a criminal". Vincent Baker, the author of the report, testified that "the silent majority in Harlem would welcome a police order to get tough". He even advocated for a "stop and frisk" policy.

The New York Times

"But compelling minimal assistance to surveil or apprehend a criminal (as in most of the cases the government cites), or demanding testimony or production of things that already exist (akin to exercising subpoena power), is vastly different, and significantly less intrusive, than conscripting a private company to create something entirely new and dangerous.

TechCrunch

"But compelling minimal assistance to surveil or apprehend a criminal (as in most of the cases the government cites), or demanding testimony or production of things that already exist (akin to exercising subpoena power), is vastly different, and significantly less intrusive, than conscripting a private company to create something entirely new and dangerous.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"You would never go ahead with any story that would possibly jeopardise apprehending a criminal … or a prosecution," says Twomey.

The Guardian

"As inflammatory as this tape might be," Mayor Street said, "we have to keep in mind that the police were in the process of apprehending a criminal suspect who had resisted a number of attempts to arrest him and who had shot a police officer".

The New York Times

As Feinberg notes, a person can be entitled to assume the presidential office without deserving it (Feinberg 1970, 86) and a person who accidentally apprehends a criminal may be entitled to a reward but not deserve it.

SEP

I assure you that my intention was to apprehend a violent criminal; it had nothing to do with profiling".

The New York Times

Mr. Kelly said that one of those yet to be apprehended, Gregory Portacio, had a criminal record that dated back about 30 years, when he was arrested for trying to steal a gold necklace from a pedestrian.

The New York Times

To apprehend specific criminal suspects.

WikiHow

You won't get paid until you successfully apprehend your criminal, so your initial expenses are out of your own pocket.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about law enforcement, use "apprehend a criminal" to convey a sense of formal procedure and legal authority. This phrase is particularly suitable for official reports or news articles.

Common error

Avoid using "apprehend a criminal" in casual conversation or informal writing. It sounds overly formal and can be replaced with simpler alternatives like "catch a criminal" or "arrest someone".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "apprehend a criminal" functions as a verb phrase typically used to describe the action of law enforcement taking someone into custody. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "apprehend a criminal" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, according to Ludwig AI. While relatively rare in overall usage, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts. It serves to formally describe the act of law enforcement taking someone into custody. When using this phrase, consider its relatively formal tone and suitability for official reports, news articles, or legal documents. If a less formal tone is desired, consider alternatives such as "arrest a suspect" or "capture an offender".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apprehend a suspect

Replaces "criminal" with "suspect", since the person apprehended hasn't been proven guilty yet.

arrest a suspect

Replaces "apprehend" with "arrest", focusing on the initial stage of legal action.

capture an offender

Substitutes "apprehend" with "capture" and "criminal" with "offender", providing a more general term.

detain a perpetrator

Uses "detain" instead of "apprehend", emphasizing temporary holding, and "perpetrator" for a more formal tone.

take a lawbreaker into custody

Rephrases the action as "take into custody", specifying "lawbreaker" instead of "criminal".

nab a culprit

Employs "nab" for a more informal tone and "culprit" as a synonym for "criminal".

seize a felon

Replaces "apprehend" with "seize" and "criminal" with "felon", indicating a serious crime.

bring a criminal to justice

Focuses on the overall process of justice rather than the immediate act of apprehension.

catch a wrongdoer

Uses "catch" for a simpler term and "wrongdoer" as a broader substitute for "criminal".

capture a fugitive

Specifies the criminal as a "fugitive", implying they are escaping or on the run.

FAQs

What is another way to say "apprehend a criminal"?

You can use alternatives such as "arrest a suspect", "capture an offender", or "detain a perpetrator depending on the context.

Is "apprehend a criminal" formal or informal?

"Apprehend a criminal" is a formal phrase often used in legal and law enforcement contexts. In informal settings, simpler alternatives like "catch a criminal" might be more appropriate.

What does it mean to "apprehend a criminal"?

To "apprehend a criminal" means to arrest or seize a person suspected of committing a crime. It signifies the act of taking someone into custody by law enforcement.

How to use "apprehend a criminal" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "The police were able to "apprehend a criminal" who had been evading capture for months, bringing an end to a series of robberies in the area."