confessed to stealing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confessed to stealing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone admitting to illegally taking something. For example: "The suspect confessed to stealing jewelry from the store."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

They confessed to stealing phones and cash.

The Guardian

The union president also confessed to stealing $1.29 million in unearned and unauthorized pay.

The New York Times

And Ms. Roush confessed to "stealing" from Martha Stewart's recipe box on occasion.

The New York Times - Food

I pointed out that Yu had under oath repeatedly confessed to stealing from him and his wife.

The New Yorker

They became poster boys for City fraud when they confessed to stealing $7.3m in an Enron-related fraud.

The Guardian - Business

A group of men lured the vendor to the mosque, where he confessed to stealing $11,400.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

C. confessed to steal, both at home and in shops.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

A month after confessing to stealing from clients and defrauding banks, Russell R. Wasendorf Sr., the chief executive of the collapsed brokerage firm Peregrine Financial Group, was indicted on Monday by a federal grand jury.

The New York Times

Despite this success, as one of her characters might remark, there's nothing fancy about Ms Waters: she cheerfully confesses to stealing much of her best stuff from other novelists, admits to being an ardent Doctor Who fan, and discusses Lost with an enthusiasm most authors reserve for Philip Roth.

The Guardian - Books

Halifax was once part of the Manor of Wakefield, where ancient custom and law gave the Lord of the Manor the authority to execute summarily by decapitation any thief caught with stolen goods to the value of 13½d or more, or who confessed to having stolen goods of at least that value.

Wikipedia

After an audit in 2008 revealed that money was missing from accounts, the official, Roberto Cearsolo Barrenetxea, confessed to having stolen more than $750,000 from two museum funds.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Verify that the subject of the sentence is indeed the one making the confession to avoid ambiguity. For example, "He confessed to stealing the car" clearly indicates who is admitting to the crime.

Common error

Avoid implying a broader confession than intended. If someone confessed only to stealing a specific item, don't phrase it as if they confessed to all thefts ever committed. For example, instead of saying "He confessed to stealing", specify "He confessed to stealing the bicycle".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confessed to stealing" primarily functions as a verbal phrase indicating an admission of guilt. It combines the verb "confessed" with a gerund phrase "to stealing", describing the action that was admitted. Ludwig's examples show its use in news and legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "confessed to stealing" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that someone has admitted to the act of theft. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and effective in written English. Predominantly used in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, it carries a neutral to formal register. For alternative phrasing, consider "admitted to the theft" or "owned up to stealing", depending on the desired level of formality. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what was stolen and who made the confession.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

admitted to the theft

Replaces "confessed" with "admitted", maintaining a formal tone and emphasizing the act of theft.

owned up to stealing

Uses the phrasal verb "owned up to", which is more informal but conveys the same meaning of admitting guilt.

pleaded guilty to theft

Emphasizes the legal aspect of admitting guilt in a court setting.

acknowledged the stealing

Replaces "confessed" with "acknowledged", indicating a recognition of the act without necessarily implying remorse.

fessed up to stealing

Uses the informal term "fessed up", suggesting a more casual confession.

avowed to stealing

avowed is to declare frankly or openly; own; acknowledge; confess

revealed stealing

reveal means to make known something secret or previously unknown.

declared stealing

declaring an action implies open avowal.

came clean about stealing

This alternative emphasizes the act of revealing a previously hidden truth about stealing.

took responsibility for stealing

This emphasizes accepting the blame for the act.

FAQs

What does "confessed to stealing" mean?

It means someone has admitted to the act of illegally taking something that doesn't belong to them. This admission can be made to authorities, peers, or in any setting where the person acknowledges their guilt.

What are some alternatives to "confessed to stealing"?

You can use alternatives like "admitted to the theft", "owned up to stealing", or "pleaded guilty to theft", depending on the formality and context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "confessed to stealing"?

Yes, "confessed to stealing" is grammatically correct. "Confessed" is a verb, and "stealing" functions as a gerund (a verb form acting as a noun), making it a valid construction.

What's the difference between "confessed to stealing" and "confessed to having stolen"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Confessed to stealing" is simpler and more commonly used. "Confessed to having stolen" emphasizes that the act of stealing occurred in the past, prior to the confession.