be prosecuted against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be prosecuted against" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would typically be "be prosecuted" without the preposition "against." Example: "He may be prosecuted for his actions if found guilty."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It was the type of case that would not be prosecuted against anyone else," Bob Woodward wrote in "Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate" (1999).

The New York Times

As a result, employees at the central office have begun looking through files for additional cases that could be prosecuted against guards at extermination camps and members of "Einsatzgruppen," or mobile SS killing squads.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"The first American Revolution, as we know, was prosecuted against King George III and his out-of-control Parliament," she said in Goshen in 2009, according to a news account.

The New York Times

There are lots of recent examples, like the bogus charges brought against Alexei Navalny, the heroic investigative blogger, and the posthumous case currently being prosecuted against, believe it or not, Sergei Magnitsky.

The New York Times

In the past three years, prospective docking screens of large chemical libraries have been prosecuted against the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR), the adenosine A2A receptor, the histamine H1 receptor, the dopamine D3 receptor, and the chemokine CXC-4 receptor.

ACS Chemical Biology

The conflict he had fought in had not been between states, but part of the amorphous war on terror that America had been prosecuting, against brutal but shadowy jihadist networks, since the attacks of September 11th 2001.

The Economist

Many of its leading members have previously said they want to the pontiff to be prosecuted for "crimes against humanity".

Independent

"Yunus must apologise for supporting homosexuality or he must be prosecuted for standing against the Koran and Islam," one organiser, Maolana Moniruzzaman Rabbani, has said.

Independent

Opposition parties said authorities must decide whether Bayer should be prosecuted for incitement against a minority, and urged Fidesz to expel him.

The Guardian

Julliard will be prosecuted for "offenses against the Chief of State," along with the author, an eccentric member of a well-known banking family who is popularly known for writing with a sharp pen on controversial subjects.

The New Yorker

The SNCF has issued a statement calling for "several riders" to be prosecuted for acting "against all safety rules".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "be prosecuted" without the preposition "against" for grammatical correctness. For example, "He may be prosecuted for his actions."

Common error

Avoid adding "against" after "be prosecuted". The verb "prosecute" already implies action taken against someone, making the preposition redundant and incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be prosecuted against" is intended as a passive construction, indicating that someone is the recipient of legal action. However, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI flags this usage as not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be prosecuted against" is grammatically incorrect. While it appears in a few instances within news and scientific contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as non-standard English. The correct and more common usage is simply "be prosecuted". Alternatives such as "face prosecution" or "be charged with" offer grammatically sound ways to convey the same meaning. Always omit "against" after "be prosecuted" to ensure accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be prosecuted

Removes the unnecessary and grammatically incorrect preposition "against".

face prosecution

Replaces the passive voice with a more direct phrase indicating the likelihood of legal action.

be charged with

Focuses on the specific accusations or offenses leading to potential legal action.

stand trial for

Emphasizes the judicial process and the act of defending oneself in court.

be indicted for

Highlights the formal accusation by a grand jury, indicating the start of criminal proceedings.

answer to charges

Indicates the obligation to respond to accusations in a legal setting.

be brought to justice

Emphasizes the goal of holding someone accountable for their actions under the law.

be subject to legal proceedings

A more formal and general way of saying that someone will face legal action.

face legal action

Broadly indicates that someone will be involved in a legal dispute or process.

be held accountable

Focuses on the responsibility for one's actions and the consequences thereof.

FAQs

What does it mean to "be prosecuted"?

To "be prosecuted" means to have legal proceedings initiated against you for allegedly committing a crime.

What is the correct way to use "prosecute" in a sentence?

The correct usage is to say someone will "be prosecuted" for a crime, not "be prosecuted against". For example, "He will "be prosecuted" for theft".

Is it correct to say someone is "prosecuted against"?

No, it is not correct. The correct phrasing is to say someone is simply ""be prosecuted"".

What are some alternatives to "be prosecuted"?

Alternatives include "face prosecution", "be charged with", or "stand trial for".