cleared of blame

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cleared of blame" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when stating that someone has been exonerated or found not guilty of a fault or wrongdoing. Example: "After a thorough investigation, the employee was cleared of blame and reinstated to their position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The judge said the train was travelling at a legal speed and that the driver, Gordon Gibson, had been cleared of blame.

Independent

But public confidence is so shaken that even if the vaccine is cleared of blame, the scheme is not expected to be revived on a mass scale.In October, when free vaccine first became available, 35 people, mostly elderly, died of heart attacks after receiving shots.

The Economist

Although subsequently cleared of blame, he had suffered a nervous breakdown and finally left Sweden, first for Paris, then Los Angeles and finally based himself in Munich, where he directed The Serpent's Egg, (1977) and some while later, the rather sour Life of the Marionettes (1979/1980).

The Guardian - Film

Liverpool supporters were cleared of blame over the deaths of 96 people in 1989, with the panel laying the blame with South Yorkshire Police.

BBC

Manchester City doctor Jamie Butler has been cleared of blame over Kolo Toure's six-month ban for failing a drugs test.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Villa were cleared of any blame.

The Guardian - Sport

Following a judicial review, the BBC was eventually cleared of all blame.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Criticised by Lord Hutton despite not being called to give evidence, Marsh was cleared of any blame by an internal BBC inquiry.

The Guardian

But I do not see that the Met's counter-terrorism operations in the year before the Olympics are strengthened by replacing Yates with Cressida Dick, who may have been cleared of personal blame for the killing by the police of Jean Charles de Menezes in Stockwell in 2005, but who was in charge when it happened.

Independent

Cavendish was cleared of any blame by race organisers and called Veelers to say he would never knock him off on purpose.

BBC

On 18 August they faced a court martial on board HMS Genereux at Port Mahon in Minorca to investigate the loss of their ship, and were all honourably cleared of any blame.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cleared of blame" when you want to emphasize a formal or official finding that someone is not responsible for a negative outcome. For example, after an internal investigation, the company president was "cleared of blame" in the financial scandal.

Common error

Don't assume that being "cleared of blame" implies complete innocence or a glowing endorsement. It simply means that direct responsibility or fault could not be proven. Other factors might still be relevant, such as negligence or poor judgment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cleared of blame" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that someone or something has been formally absolved of responsibility for a particular fault or wrongdoing. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cleared of blame" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that signifies someone has been formally absolved of responsibility. While not as frequently used as other similar phrases, it appears commonly in news and media contexts and has a neutral register. It's important to understand that being "cleared of blame" does not necessarily imply complete innocence, but rather a lack of proven responsibility. Alternatives such as "exonerated" or "absolved of responsibility" may carry slightly different connotations depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exonerated

Implies a formal declaration of innocence, often after an investigation.

absolved of responsibility

Focuses on the removal of duty or obligation for an action or outcome.

vindicated

Suggests proof of innocence after a period of doubt or accusation.

acquitted

Refers specifically to a legal or judicial finding of not guilty.

found not guilty

A more direct and less formal way of stating a legal acquittal.

absolved of guilt

Emphasizes the removal of moral or legal culpability.

exculpated

Similar to exonerated, but can also refer to mitigating circumstances.

absolved of any wrongdoing

Highlights that no unethical or illegal actions were committed.

freed from accusation

Implies a liberation from a formal charge or claim.

deemed not accountable

Focuses on the lack of responsibility for the outcome or situation.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "cleared of blame"?

To be "cleared of blame" means that an individual or entity has been formally absolved of responsibility for a particular fault, error, or negative outcome. This typically follows an investigation or review of the situation.

What's the difference between "cleared of blame" and "exonerated"?

While both terms imply a release from responsibility, "exonerated" often suggests a more thorough clearing of one's name, sometimes involving the revelation of new evidence or a reversal of a previous judgment. "Cleared of blame" is a more general term.

When is it appropriate to use "cleared of blame" in writing?

Use "cleared of blame" when you want to convey that someone has been formally found not responsible for a particular action or event. It's common in legal, journalistic, and corporate contexts to describe the outcome of investigations or reviews.

What are some alternatives to saying "cleared of blame"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "absolved of responsibility", "found not guilty", or "exculpated" as alternatives to "cleared of blame".