committed a transgression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "committed a transgression" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an act that violated a code of conduct or law. For example, "The thief committed a transgression when he stole the car."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

If Serebrennikov did commit a transgression, what was the true nature of it?

The New Yorker

Where you give a punishment to someone who commits a transgression – not a crime – so that the whole group know what is good, what is bad, what is wrong, what is right.

The Guardian - Sport

Any young supporter, perhaps howling with drink and emotion, who commits a transgression at or near a stadium can expect the full force of the law as laid down by their favourite club.

The Guardian - Opinion

The word was printed in purple and I was proud of stamping myself, as if I was committing a transgression, but hadn't been caught.

Huffington Post

The truth is, I have committed a double transgression.

The Guardian - Opinion

In constantly castigating Alex Salmond and his party they committed a monstrous transgression.

The Guardian

To begin with, in crossing the line between philosophical reason, based on ordinary experience, and supra-rational intuition, based on extra-ordinary religious experience, Nishida had purportedly committed a methodological transgression.

SEP

"The ideal is for employees to recognize when they've committed a minor transgression and check themselves," Michael S. Christian, one of the paper's co-authors, wrote.

Huffington Post

In our house, the 1970s is the big gun, the punishment for having committed a major transgression and it turns out they don't need too many intertemporal trips before they get the message.

Huffington Post

"Our religious expulsion process continued, which found her guilty of having committed a dozen transgressions, leading to her being formally expelled.

Independent

This perfectly decent guy has committed an ethical transgression, but in a sense it was the decent thing to do.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "committed a transgression" when you want to express that someone has violated a moral, ethical, or legal standard, often implying a serious but not necessarily criminal offense. Ensure the context aligns with this level of formality.

Common error

Avoid using "committed a transgression" in casual conversations or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "messed up" or "did something wrong" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "committed a transgression" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase, describing an action that violates a rule, law, or moral principle. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "committed a transgression" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a violation of rules, laws, or ethical standards. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While it's not extremely common, and is considered rare, it appears in various contexts, from News & Media to Scientific texts, often implying judgment or accountability. It's best suited for neutral to formal settings. When a more informal tone is required, alternatives like "did something wrong" might be more appropriate. Common errors include overusing the phrase in very casual situations where simpler language is more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perpetrated an offense

Replaces "committed" with "perpetrated" and "transgression" with "offense", indicating a formal wrongdoing.

carried out a violation

Substitutes "committed" with "carried out" and "transgression" with "violation", suggesting a more formal or legalistic context.

engaged in wrongdoing

Replaces the entire phrase with a more general term, focusing on the act of doing something wrong.

was guilty of an infraction

Shifts the focus to guilt and uses "infraction" instead of "transgression", implying a minor violation.

breached a rule

Focuses specifically on breaking a rule, making it less broad than a general transgression.

violated a standard

Similar to breaching a rule, but emphasizes the violation of a set standard or expectation.

fell afoul of the law

Indicates a legal context, specifically meaning to come into conflict with the law.

stepped out of line

An informal way of saying someone acted inappropriately or violated expectations.

acted unlawfully

Highlights the illegal nature of the action, making it specifically about breaking the law.

misbehaved

A general term for acting badly, often used for minor transgressions or among children.

FAQs

How can I use "committed a transgression" in a sentence?

You can use "committed a transgression" to describe someone violating a moral, ethical, or legal code. For example, "The politician "committed a transgression" by accepting bribes."

What are some alternatives to "committed a transgression"?

Alternatives include "perpetrated an offense", "engaged in wrongdoing", or "violated a standard", depending on the specific context and level of formality.

Is "committed a transgression" appropriate for informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "committed a transgression" is quite formal and might sound out of place in informal writing. Simpler phrases like "did something wrong" or "messed up" might be more suitable.

What's the nuance of using "committed a transgression" versus "committed a crime"?

"Committed a crime" specifically refers to breaking the law, whereas ""committed a transgression"" encompasses a broader range of violations, including moral or ethical breaches that may not be illegal. A priest "committed a transgression" against his vows, while a burglar commits a crime.