arrive at a verdict

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "arrive at a verdict" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to describe the process of reaching a decision or conclusion in a trial or legal case. Example: "After several days of deliberation, the jury was finally able to arrive at a verdict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Most often, a mistrial may be declared if the jury itself cannot arrive at a verdict after repeated attempts (i.e., if it is a hung jury).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The presiding judge, Masaya Hotta, said the six lay judges and three professional judges will help him arrive at a verdict.

The Guardian

By juggling provisions for retroactivity, pension benefits, & finally, the expiration date of the contract, Mr. McDonnell was able to arrive at a verdict complex enough to permit the union to claim a victory before its membership & yet permit the city to pass the word to the other unions that annual-pay-increase guidelines had not after all been breached.

The New Yorker

But he advised them it was "not an endurance test" and they could take as long as they needed to arrive at a verdict on Coulson and the News of the World's former royal editor Clive Goodman in relation to allegations of the purchase of royal telephone books from a palace police officer.

The Guardian

It took Diana Perdomo, a 22-year-old student from Manhattan, a several-minute stroll through the vertical shopping mall in the new Time Warner Center to arrive at a verdict about the place, known as The Shops at Columbus Circle.

The New York Times

If there's debatable evidence supporting the prosecution case, can inferences be drawn to arrive at a verdict, if so inference/speculation on the full evidence or only where you have directed us to do so (eg circumstantial evidence, lies, the failure by Ms Pryce to mention facts to the police).

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Once the IAEA arrived at a verdict of noncompliance, it would forward its grievances to the U.N. Security Council for adjudication.

The Washington Post

First, the method by which an individual arrives at a judgment may not be analogous to the procedure by which a jury arrives at a verdict.

Cornell University

To those inquiries she answered that her mind was clear of bias, and that the law and the evidence would govern her in arriving at a verdict.

Cornell University

Reading the 26 rules that govern a Senate trial for impeachment, Mr. Lamb discovered that the most crucial part of the entire proceeding, the final deliberations in which each senator can speak for 10 or 15 minutes while arriving at a verdict, is "closed" to the public, and thus to TV cameras.

The New York Times

In the Landmark Arrian I mostly noted these divergences without arriving at a verdict.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal proceedings, use "arrive at a verdict" to clearly indicate the moment of decision-making by a jury or judge. It adds a sense of finality and resolution to the narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "arrive at a verdict" when you only need to state the outcome. For example, instead of "The jury arrived at a verdict of guilty," simply write "The jury found the defendant guilty."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arrive at a verdict" functions as a verb phrase that signifies the act of reaching a final decision in a legal case, typically by a jury or judge. It implies a process of deliberation and consideration of evidence, leading to a definitive outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is commonly used in legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "arrive at a verdict" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression, particularly in legal contexts, to describe the process of reaching a decision in a trial or legal case. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not extremely frequent, it holds a prominent place in news, academic, and legal reporting. Alternatives such as "reach a verdict" or "come to a verdict" can be used interchangeably, although "arrive at a verdict" carries a slightly more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reach a verdict

This alternative is a direct synonym, emphasizing the completion of the deliberation process.

come to a verdict

This alternative is another direct synonym, focusing on the process of reaching the final decision.

return a verdict

This alternative is more specific to jury trials, indicating the formal announcement of the verdict.

deliver a verdict

This alternative emphasizes the act of formally presenting the verdict.

hand down a verdict

This alternative is more formal, suggesting the official pronouncement of the verdict by a judge or jury.

render a verdict

This alternative is a formal and legalistic way to say 'give' or 'provide' a verdict.

reach a conclusion

This alternative is broader and can be used in non-legal contexts, referring to any decision-making process.

make a determination

This alternative is also broader, emphasizing the act of deciding something after considering the facts.

decide on a judgment

This alternative places emphasis on the judgment aspect of the decision, which implies a sense of evaluation and decision making.

resolve the matter

This alternative focuses on bringing the case to a close, implying a final resolution.

FAQs

What does "arrive at a verdict" mean in a legal context?

In a legal context, "arrive at a verdict" signifies the conclusion of jury deliberations where they reach a unanimous or majority decision regarding the guilt or innocence of the defendant.

How can I use "arrive at a verdict" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "After a week-long trial, the jury was finally able to "reach a verdict"."

Which is more formal, "arrive at a verdict" or "come to a verdict"?

"Arrive at a verdict" and "come to a verdict" are largely interchangeable, but "arrive at a verdict" tends to be slightly more formal, particularly in legal writing.

What are some alternatives to "arrive at a verdict" that I can use in different contexts?

Depending on the specific situation, you can use alternatives like "reach a conclusion", "make a determination", or "render a verdict".