catch a criminal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catch a criminal" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a sentence like: The police department has promised to catch the criminal by the end of the week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"How do you catch a criminal?" Dr. Leeson said.

The New York Times - Tech

Alonzo is telling Jake that in order to catch a criminal he's got to think and act like one himself.

The New Yorker

Cites a number of cases where they have worked at cross purposes in a race to catch a criminal.

The New Yorker

He recalled a new truism circulating through the department: "It's so much easier to catch a criminal — you have fingerprints, you have addresses, you have known associates.

The New York Times

Comstat could not, on its own, stop crime, but if taken seriously it could help police catch a criminal after he'd committed his fourth robbery rather than his fourteenth.

The New Yorker

"We don't have connectivity to any database with people's criminal history, because we're private," Lautenbach says, "but we can match events together to catch a criminal or criminal gang and we pass that along to law enforcement".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

I asked Derrick whether, given the difficulty of finding solid information and witnesses willing to testify, he had ever actually caught a criminal in a rap-related crime and had later seen that criminal go to prison.

The New Yorker

Would a cop who catches a criminal trying to break into a bank tell him not to do it again and send him on his way?

Huffington Post

Before you laugh off my proposal for "To Catch a War Criminal," check out last week's New York Times report by Brian Stelter: "On Trail of War Criminals, NBC News Is Criticized".

Huffington Post

Enter Sylvester Stallone, a 20th century cop taken out of cryongenic storage to catch a rampaging criminal.

The Guardian - Film

But Mr. Ciralsky told The Associated Press, "The people who've called it 'To Catch a War Criminal,' they've never seen the show".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "catch a criminal", ensure the context clearly indicates the act of apprehending or arresting someone who has committed a crime. Avoid using it in situations where the context is metaphorical or unrelated to law enforcement.

Common error

Avoid using "catch a criminal" in abstract or metaphorical contexts where the intended meaning is not related to law enforcement or crime. For example, it would be incorrect to say "The company tried to catch a criminal in their accounting department" if you simply mean they were trying to find someone who made a mistake.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch a criminal" functions primarily as a verb phrase describing the action of apprehending or arresting someone who has committed a crime. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "catch a criminal" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the act of apprehending someone who has committed a crime. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media /s/news+and+media, wiki and science. While generally neutral in tone, the choice of synonyms like "apprehend a suspect" or "bring to justice" may be more appropriate for formal or legal settings. The key is to ensure the context aligns with the intended meaning of law enforcement and crime, avoiding misuse in abstract or metaphorical situations. Best practice involves considering the formality and precision required for the specific writing context. The given phrase is widely accepted and its high frequency ensures easy understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apprehend a suspect

Focuses on the initial act of seizing someone suspected of a crime, rather than the broader process of catching a criminal.

take a criminal into custody

Focuses on the formal process of arresting and detaining a criminal.

capture an offender

Focuses on the act of capturing someone who has committed an offense.

bring a perpetrator to justice

Emphasizes the legal process and the goal of ensuring punishment for wrongdoing.

detain a lawbreaker

Highlights the act of holding someone who has broken the law.

seize a culprit

Emphasizes the act of taking hold of someone responsible for a crime.

nab a wrongdoer

A more informal way of saying "catch a criminal", suitable for casual contexts.

ensnare a felon

Implies a more strategic or cunning approach to catching a criminal who has committed a serious crime.

bust a criminal

A slang term for arresting a criminal, typically used in informal contexts.

collar a villain

An old-fashioned term for catching a criminal, often used in fictional contexts.

FAQs

What are some alternative ways to say "catch a criminal"?

You can use alternatives like "apprehend a suspect", "bring a perpetrator to justice", or "capture an offender" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "catch a criminal" in formal writing?

Yes, "catch a criminal" is generally appropriate in formal writing, especially when discussing law enforcement or criminal justice. However, consider more formal alternatives like "apprehend a suspect" /s/apprehend+a+suspect or "bring to justice" /s/bring+to+justice for added precision.

What is the difference between "catch a criminal" and "prosecute a criminal"?

"Catch a criminal" refers to the act of apprehending or arresting someone suspected of a crime, while "prosecute a criminal" refers to the legal process of bringing a criminal to trial and seeking a conviction. Catching is the initial action, while prosecution is the subsequent legal procedure.

In what contexts is it most common to hear the phrase "catch a criminal"?

The phrase "catch a criminal" is most commonly heard in contexts related to law enforcement, news reports about crime, and discussions of criminal justice. It's often used in news media /s/news+media, police reports, and legal proceedings.