be found guilty of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be found guilty of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that a person has been determined to have committed a crime or offense after a trial. Example: "After a lengthy trial, the defendant was found guilty of theft."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Will she be found guilty of assaulting the policewoman?

The New York Times - Books

"Should any official be found guilty of an offence, it will be announced publicly.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Bikindi, 54, is the first entertainer to be found guilty of a genocide-related charge.

The New York Times

Could Supreme Court Justices ever be found guilty of such things?

The New Yorker

Leach said Pistorius did have the requisite legal intention to be found guilty of murder.

The Guardian

The police might be found guilty of criminal recklessness, but how much difference would that make?

The New York Times

Therefore he could not be found guilty of a lesser charge of murder.

The Guardian

"If you are going to punish someone, [they] have to be found guilty of something first".

The Guardian

The law now is that a husband can be found guilty of raping his wife.

The Guardian

Under international law, a person can be found guilty of aiding and abetting war crimes".

The Guardian

If these accusations are true, Mr. Hurd could be found guilty of leaking insider information.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be found guilty of", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific charge or offense for which the person was found guilty. Providing specific details enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "be found guilty of" in informal contexts or situations where a formal legal judgment has not been made. Using it loosely can misrepresent the situation and potentially lead to legal inaccuracies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be found guilty of" functions as a passive construction indicating that a legal determination of guilt has been made. Ludwig's examples show the phrase used primarily in news and legal contexts to report on court verdicts and legal proceedings. The Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be found guilty of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, particularly in the realm of law and news reporting. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase carries the weight of a formal legal judgment, denoting that an individual has been officially declared responsible for a crime. Its frequent usage in reputable news sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC underscores its importance in conveying information about the outcomes of legal proceedings. Remember to use the phrase in contexts where a formal legal judgment has indeed been made, and consider alternatives like "be convicted of" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be convicted of

Focuses specifically on the legal declaration of guilt by a court.

be declared guilty of

Implies a formal pronouncement or announcement of guilt.

be judged guilty of

Emphasizes the act of making a judgment regarding someone's guilt.

be ruled guilty of

Indicates that a ruling or decision has determined guilt.

be proven guilty of

Highlights the process of establishing guilt through evidence.

be determined guilty of

Focuses on the process of establishing or ascertaining guilt.

be held liable for

Shifts the focus to legal responsibility, often in civil cases rather than criminal.

face a guilty verdict for

Highlights the prospect or experience of receiving a guilty verdict.

be culpable of

Focuses on the blameworthiness or responsibility for wrongdoing.

answer to a guilty charge of

Emphasizes the need to respond or be accountable for a guilty accusation.

FAQs

What does "be found guilty of" mean?

The phrase "be found guilty of" indicates that a person has been formally judged to have committed a crime or offense in a court of law.

How is "be found guilty of" different from "be accused of"?

"Be accused of" simply means someone is alleged to have committed a crime, while "be found guilty of" means a court has determined they actually committed the crime. One is an accusation, the other is a legal judgment.

What are some alternatives to "be found guilty of"?

You can use alternatives like "be convicted of", "be judged guilty of", or "be held liable for" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Can a person "be found guilty of" something without a trial?

Typically, a person is "be found guilty of" after a trial where evidence is presented and a judge or jury makes a determination. However, in some cases, a person may plead guilty, which is an admission of guilt without a trial.