confiscated on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confiscated on" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is typically used in contexts where something is taken away by authority, but it requires additional context to specify what it was confiscated on, such as a date or event. Example: "The items were confiscated on the grounds of illegal possession."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

The newspaper was confiscated on one day and suspended publication for two.

The New York Times

The book was confiscated on day one and Ed was told it was inappropriate.

Vice

"I'm rather hoping that some of you might have been able to initiate [the duchess] into the special pleasure of Tim Tams, not to mention the unique experience of Vegemite, as our one and only jar of jubilee Marmite was confiscated on arrival here in Australia".

BBC

"I'm rather hoping that some of you might have been able to initiate [the duchess] into the special pleasure of Tim Tams, not to mention the unique experience of Vegemite, as our one and only jar of jubilee Marmite was confiscated on arrival here in Australia". The heir to the throne also spoke about his run-in with local creepy-crawlies when he lived in Australia in the 1960s.

BBC

They say, 'Your nose is putting the Congo into danger.' " At one point his father was imprisoned, and his father's cattle confiscated, on the pretext that he was not a citizen.

The New York Times

The men also said their passports were confiscated on arrival in Qatar.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

"That badge protects the animals". Outside the courthouse, Roger Figg, an exotic-animal collector from Riverhead who rents out 400-pound tigers for glamour photos questioned why Mr. Wallach, was the only person who seemed to find any wild animals to confiscate on Long Island.

The New York Times

"We will continue to confiscate on the door and discourage sellers outside of the venue," they told me.

Vice

The TSA, which is wont to highlight the items it confiscates on Instagram these days, Tweeted the below photo Tuesday afternoon.

Huffington Post

His faction was armed with pistols and Kalashnikov rifles, until the marines confiscated them on Sunday.

The New York Times

The New York-based press watchdog accuses the Israeli defence force of releasing edited portions of confiscated video on YouTube that fail to get across the reality.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the term "confiscated", ensure clarity by specifying the reason or grounds for the confiscation directly after the verb. Rephrase to include prepositions like "due to", "because of", or "based on" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "confiscated on" without clearly stating the reason for the confiscation. This construction can be ambiguous. Instead, specify the grounds or basis for the confiscation to provide a clearer understanding for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confiscated on" acts as a past participle verb form followed by a preposition. According to Ludwig AI, this construction often lacks clarity and grammatical precision. While present in numerous examples, it's functionally ambiguous and typically requires further context to fully convey its meaning.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "confiscated on" is used to describe the act of seizing something, often by an authority. However, Ludwig AI points out that this construction can be grammatically awkward and lack clarity. While relatively common, it's advisable to rephrase using more precise prepositions like "due to", "because of", or "based on" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness. Common usage contexts include News & Media and Wiki sources, indicating a neutral to professional register. Consider alternatives such as "seized due to" or "taken as a result of" for enhanced clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confiscated upon

Replaces 'on' with 'upon' offering a more formal tone, but doesn't address underlying structural awkwardness.

seized upon

Substitutes 'confiscated' with 'seized', emphasizing the act of taking, while 'upon' maintains a similar prepositional usage.

confiscated based on

Replaces 'on' with 'based on' to clarify the grounds for confiscation, providing a reason.

confiscated because of

Specifies the cause or reason for the confiscation, replacing 'on' with a causal prepositional phrase.

seized due to

Combines 'seized' for action emphasis with 'due to' to explicitly state the reason for the seizure.

taken as a result of

Uses 'taken' for a simpler term and 'as a result of' to clearly indicate the consequence leading to the action.

impounded due to

Employs 'impounded' for items like vehicles or documents and links it with 'due to' for a clear causal relationship.

appropriated because of

Replaces confiscated with appropriated and clarifies the reason with 'because of'.

sequestrated as a consequence of

A more formal alternative using 'sequestrated' and specifying the result with 'as a consequence of'.

confiscated following

Suggests a sequence of events, the confiscation occurring after a specific event or discovery.

FAQs

What does "confiscated on" mean?

The phrase "confiscated on" suggests that something was taken away or seized at a particular time or based on a specific reason. However, it's often more grammatically correct and clearer to specify the reason directly, such as "confiscated due to" or "confiscated because of".

How can I make the phrase "confiscated on" clearer?

To improve clarity, replace "confiscated on" with phrases that explicitly state the reason or basis for confiscation. For example, use "confiscated "due to"", "confiscated "because of"", or "confiscated "based on"" to provide more context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "confiscated on"?

While "confiscated on" appears in some sources, it is often considered grammatically awkward. It's better to rephrase the sentence for improved clarity and correctness. Using alternatives like "seized "upon"" or "confiscated "following"" can also provide better context.

What are some alternatives to "confiscated on"?

Some alternatives include "seized "due to"", "confiscated "because of"", "confiscated "based on"", or "taken as a result of". These alternatives offer greater clarity and grammatical precision.