arrest him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "arrest him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is being taken into custody by law enforcement. Example: "The officer had no choice but to arrest him after witnessing the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not arrest him.

Independent

Police did not arrest him.

Independent

Officers arrived to arrest him.

The New York Times

Why not arrest him?

The New Yorker

Do you know nobody could arrest him?

The New Yorker

"Do not arrest him," she begged.

The New York Times

The tribal police can't arrest him.

The New York Times

But they don't arrest him.

The Guardian

Karzai wanted to arrest him.

The New York Times - Magazine

Rochford then threatened to arrest him.

The Washington Post

The deputy sheriff tried to arrest him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "arrest him", ensure the context clearly indicates that law enforcement or an authority figure is performing the action. The clarity prevents misinterpretation and maintains a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "arrest him" when referring to actions taken by individuals without legal authority. Instead, use terms like "detain" or "restrain" to accurately describe the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arrest him" primarily functions as a verb phrase where "arrest" is the transitive verb indicating the action of taking someone into custody, and "him" is the direct object, referring to the person being arrested. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples across diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "arrest him" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, primarily found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to report or instruct the act of taking someone into legal custody and is generally considered neutral in register. While alternatives like "take him into custody" or "detain him" exist, ensuring the proper authority and context is crucial for accurate and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Place him under arrest

Formal declaration of an arrest.

Take him into custody

Formally expresses the act of detaining someone.

Apprehend him

Emphasizes the act of capturing someone, often after a pursuit.

Detain him

Highlights the act of holding someone for questioning or investigation.

Take him into detention

Similar to 'detain him' but emphasizes the location of holding.

Take him prisoner

Focuses on the act of capturing someone and holding them as a prisoner.

Bring him in

Informal way to describe taking someone into custody for questioning.

Pick him up

Informal term for arresting someone, often used in casual conversation.

Seize him

Emphasizes the forceful taking of someone into custody.

Put him in handcuffs

Focuses on the physical restraint associated with an arrest.

FAQs

What does "arrest him" mean?

The phrase "arrest him" means to take someone into legal custody, usually by law enforcement, due to suspicion or evidence of a crime.

What can I say instead of "arrest him"?

You can use alternatives like "take him into custody", "apprehend him", or "detain him" depending on the context.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "arrest him"?

Use "arrest him" when describing a situation where law enforcement or authorized personnel are taking someone into custody for allegedly breaking the law. Make sure you're not using the phrase when you mean a simple restraint by a non-official person.

Is "arrest him" formal or informal?

The phrase "arrest him" is generally considered neutral. For more formal contexts, phrases like "take him into custody" or "place him under arrest" might be more appropriate.