commit a crime

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "commit a crime" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to refer to the act of carrying out an illegal action. For example: "If you commit a crime, you may face jail time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(Unless they commit a crime).

The New York Times

"You did commit a crime," he said.

The New York Times

"He didn't commit a crime".

The New York Times - Sports

But I didn't commit a crime.

The New York Times - Sports

They did not commit a crime".

The New York Times

(He says he didn't commit a crime).

The New Yorker

If he did commit a crime, it certainly paid.

The New York Times - Science

We "image the numerator". But "20%" doesn't commit a crime.

Harvard Business Review

So: Agreement to commit a crime and an overt act.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Rarely is there a document in which a person reveals an intent to commit a crime.

The New York Times

A world where to question ignorance and intolerance is to commit a Crime against Faith.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic or formal writing, you may also consider using 'perpetrate an offense' or 'transgress the law' depending on the context.

Common error

Avoid using terms like "suspected of a crime" interchangeably with "commit a crime". "Suspected" implies an investigation, while "commit" indicates a completed illegal act.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commit a crime" functions as a verb phrase indicating the performance of an illegal act. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use across diverse contexts. The examples provided in Ludwig illustrate its application in describing various scenarios involving legal transgressions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Wiki

12%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "commit a crime" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the act of performing an illegal action. Ludwig AI analysis and the provided examples confirm its widespread use across various contexts, from news reports to legal discussions. While simple, it's essential to use it when you need to clearly and directly state that someone has performed an action that violates the law. You can use alternatives like "break the law" or "perpetrate an offense" depending on the context and formality required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

break the law

Uses a more common and simple way to express the idea of acting against legal rules.

violate the law

Similar to "break the law" but emphasizes a transgression against a formal legal code.

perpetrate an offense

Replaces "crime" with the more formal "offense" and "commit" with "perpetrate", implying a more deliberate or serious action.

do something illegal

A plain and straightforward way of saying "commit a crime"

perform an unlawful act

Emphasizes the action's illegality, suitable for legal or formal contexts.

engage in illegal activity

Substitutes "commit a crime" with a broader description of unlawful conduct.

transgress the law

A more formal alternative that conveys a serious violation of legal or moral boundaries.

be guilty of an offense

Highlights the culpability or guilt associated with the illegal action.

be involved in criminal behavior

Shifts the focus to the behavior itself, suggesting a pattern or tendency.

offend against the law

A more archaic and formal alternative to "break the law".

FAQs

What's a simple way to say "commit a crime"?

A simpler way to say "commit a crime" is to "break the law". It's more direct and commonly used in everyday conversation.

Is it correct to say "doing a crime" instead of "commit a crime"?

While understandable, "doing a crime" is less formal and grammatically precise than "commit a crime". "Commit a crime" is the standard phrasing, particularly in formal or legal contexts.

What's the difference between "commit a crime" and "perpetrate an offense"?

"Commit a crime" is a general term for performing an illegal act. "Perpetrate an offense" is more formal, often used in legal contexts, and can imply a more serious or deliberate action. You could consider to use something like "engage in illegal activity" too.

When should I use "commit a crime" in my writing?

Use "commit a crime" when you need to clearly and directly state that someone has performed an action that violates the law. It's appropriate for news reports, legal documents, and formal discussions of criminal activity. For a simpler expression, in less formal enviroments, consider "break the law".