asking for clemency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "asking for clemency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is requesting mercy or leniency, often in legal or formal situations. Example: "The defendant is asking for clemency, hoping for a reduced sentence due to extenuating circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa recently wrote a letter to the Texas pardons board asking for clemency.

The New York Times

Starting with tonight's Mass, parishioners will be asked to write letters to President Clinton asking for clemency.

The New York Times

In July 2010, one of Clark's lawyers, Sara Bennett, delivered hundreds of letters to Gov. David A. Paterson asking for clemency.

The New York Times - Magazine

But sometime in November a new formula was agreed: Mr Khodorkovsky would write a letter asking for clemency and mentioning his mother's deteriorating health, but there would be no admission of guilt.

The Economist

12 Feb: 150,000 signatures on a mercy petition asking for clemency handed to the men's families; Australian foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop makes emotional plea in federal parliament for Indonesia to spare their lives.

The Guardian

Lawyers asking for clemency have raised a broad-based critique of the capital punishment system here, pointing out in each brief which of the changes recommended by the Ryan commission would invalidate their clients' death sentences.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

His mother wrote to Franco to ask for clemency.

The Guardian - Books

Mr. Norwood's widow, Mamie, has also asked for clemency for Mr. Williams.

The New York Times

I am writing to ask for clemency for the prisoners Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Despite the pressure, none of these students, including Ahmad, ever asked for clemency".

The New York Times

Khodorkovsky, upon arrival in Berlin, spoke briefly, only acknowledging that he had asked for clemency "for family reasons".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "asking for clemency" when formally requesting leniency or pardon, especially in legal or official contexts. It conveys a sense of formality and respect.

Common error

Avoid using "asking for clemency" in casual conversations. It's a formal phrase that might sound out of place in informal settings; consider using simpler alternatives like "asking for forgiveness" or "seeking mercy" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "asking for clemency" functions as a gerund phrase, often serving as a noun phrase within a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and grammatical correctness. It describes the act of requesting leniency or pardon, especially in legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "asking for clemency" is a grammatically correct and formal expression used to denote the act of requesting leniency or a pardon, typically within legal or official contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While not extremely common, it appears frequently in news and media, as well as in formal business settings. When writing, it's important to reserve this phrase for situations that warrant its formal tone, avoiding its use in casual conversation. Alternative phrases include "seeking leniency" or "requesting a pardon", offering similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seeking leniency

Replaces "asking" with "seeking" and "clemency" with "leniency", focusing on the act of seeking a more lenient treatment.

making a plea for clemency

Rephrases the request as "making a plea", which is a more formal and direct way of asking for clemency.

requesting a pardon

Substitutes "clemency" with "pardon", indicating a formal request for forgiveness of an offense.

soliciting clemency

Uses a more formal term, "soliciting", to describe the act of requesting clemency.

petitioning for clemency

Indicates a formal request often submitted in writing, using "petitioning" to describe the action.

appealing for mercy

Emphasizes the emotional aspect by using "mercy" instead of "clemency", implying a plea based on compassion.

seeking executive clemency

Specifies that the clemency is being sought from an executive authority, such as a governor or president.

pleading for forgiveness

Highlights the remorseful aspect of the request, focusing on asking to be forgiven.

applying for a reprieve

Changes the focus to requesting a temporary suspension of a sentence or punishment, using "reprieve" instead of clemency.

begging for leniency

Conveys a sense of desperation by using "begging", which intensifies the request for leniency.

FAQs

How to use "asking for clemency" in a sentence?

You can use "asking for clemency" in sentences like: "The lawyer stated that his client is "asking for clemency" due to mitigating circumstances" or "The organization is "asking for clemency" for those wrongly convicted".

What can I say instead of "asking for clemency"?

You can use alternatives like "seeking leniency", "requesting a pardon", or "appealing for mercy" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "asking for clemency" and "asking for forgiveness"?

"Asking for clemency" typically refers to a formal request for leniency from a legal authority, whereas "asking for forgiveness" is a more general term that can apply to personal relationships or moral transgressions.

When is it appropriate to use "asking for clemency"?

It is appropriate to use "asking for clemency" in legal proceedings, formal petitions, or official communications where a person is seeking leniency from a governing body or authority.