being charged with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being charged with" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that someone is formally accused of a crime or offense. Example: "The defendant is being charged with theft and will appear in court next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He's now being charged with arson.

The Washington Post

He cannot say whose murder he was being charged with.

The New York Times

He feared being charged with possession of stolen property.

The New York Times

Now many of us are being charged with terrorism.

The Washington Post

He had been imprisoned after being charged with fraud.

The Washington Post

He wound up being charged with all five runs.

The New York Times - Sports

They, too, are being charged with "terrorist" activities.

The Guardian

He has been incarcerated without being charged with a crime.

The New York Times

After being charged with murder, respondent moved to suppress his statements as made involuntarily.

Cornell University

Some have been there more than three years without being charged with a crime.

The Washington Post

Mr Barankov fled in 2009 after being charged with fraud and extortion.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "being charged with" when you want to emphasize the formal legal process of accusation, particularly in news reports or legal documents.

Common error

Avoid using "charging" metaphorically outside legal or formal contexts. For example, instead of saying "He is being charged with enthusiasm", use "He is filled with enthusiasm."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being charged with" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone is the recipient of a legal action. Ludwig shows that it's commonly used to report on legal proceedings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

14%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "being charged with" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that indicates a formal legal accusation. As Ludwig confirms, it frequently appears in news and academic contexts to objectively report on legal proceedings. When writing, it's best to use this phrase to convey factual information about someone facing charges, while avoiding its metaphorical use in non-legal settings. If you are searching for alternative ways to say the same thing, you could consider "facing charges of" or "accused of", depending on the nuance you're looking to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

facing charges of

Focuses on the act of facing legal accusations.

accused of

Highlights the accusation itself, rather than the formal charging process.

indicted for

Emphasizes the formal legal indictment process.

prosecuted for

Indicates the legal proceedings that follow the charge.

on trial for

Focuses on the trial phase after charges have been filed.

subject to legal action for

Broadly covers any legal actions initiated against someone.

liable for

Indicates legal responsibility or obligation.

under investigation for

Suggests an ongoing inquiry that could lead to charges.

suspected of

Implies a lower level of certainty than "being charged with".

apprehended for

Focuses on the act of catching or arresting someone in connection to a crime.

FAQs

How to use "being charged with" in a sentence?

Use "being charged with" to indicate someone has been formally accused of a crime. For example, "The suspect is "being charged with" fraud."

What can I say instead of "being charged with"?

You can use alternatives like "facing charges", "accused of", or "indicted for depending on the context.

Which is correct, "being charged with" or "charged with"?

"Being charged with" emphasizes the ongoing process of the accusation, while "charged with" is a more general statement. Both are grammatically correct, but their usage depends on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "being charged with" and "suspected of"?

"Being charged with" indicates a formal accusation by legal authorities. "Suspected of" implies an informal belief or conjecture that someone may have committed a crime, without formal charges being filed.