confiscated to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confiscated to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; "confiscated" should be followed by a direct object, not "to." Example: "The items were confiscated from the students."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

In Žitnić on 21 November, another agreement to evacuate the JNA and the Yugoslav Navy from the Šibenik Split area and surrender of the confiscated TO weapons stored there was signed by Rudolf and the JNA Maritime-Military District commanding officer Major General Nikola Mladenić.

Wikipedia

Capital was redirected toward industrial production, and land was confiscated to build factories.

Columbia University

Many are virtually imprisoned, all their earnings confiscated to pay bogus debts racked up by pimps.

The Economist

She has been repeatedly arrested without charge, tear-gassed during meetings of the united opposition movement, and had her passport confiscated to prevent her leaving the country.

The Guardian - Opinion

She was later murdered under bizarre circumstances, and her diary, detailing their affair, threatened briefly, until it was confiscated, to become a political hot potato.

The Guardian - Books

He agreed to remain at the disposal of the Spanish judiciary, but it was unclear whether his passport was confiscated to prevent him from leaving the country, according to a person briefed on the matter.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Once the state has rooted out absolute poverty, how much wealth, if any, should it confiscate to reduce inequality for its own sake?

The Economist

The government has also given police new powers to confiscate passports, to prevent people travelling abroad to join militants.

BBC

HKND has the legal right to confiscate land to build the Canal and other projects.

Vice

To minimize the expected resistance, the JNA confiscated the TO's weapons.

Wikipedia

He said they were confiscated according to customs laws.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "confiscated to". Instead, use "confiscated from" or rephrase the sentence to clarify the subject from which the item was taken and the reason for confiscation.

Common error

A common mistake is using "confiscated to" when intending to specify the recipient or purpose of the confiscation. The correct usage typically involves "confiscated from" to indicate the source from which something was taken, or a rephrasing to clarify the outcome or purpose separately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confiscated to" is typically used incorrectly. As Ludwig AI points out, the verb "confiscated" should usually be followed by a preposition like "from" rather than "to".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "confiscated to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the correct usage typically involves specifying the source from which something was taken using "confiscated from". Although various sources, including news outlets and academic papers, contain instances of the phrase, it's advisable to rephrase sentences to ensure grammatical accuracy. Alternatives such as "seized from" or "taken from", or restructuring the sentence to clarify both the source and destination, are recommended for clearer and more precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confiscated for

Replaces "to" with "for", focusing on the purpose of the confiscation.

seized for

Uses "seized" as a synonym for "confiscated", keeping the focus on the purpose with "for".

taken for

Employs a simpler verb, "taken", to convey the action, still indicating the purpose with "for".

appropriated for

Replaces "confiscated" with a more formal term, "appropriated", emphasizing the official nature of the action.

forfeited for

Suggests a loss due to a rule violation, with "forfeited" indicating the reason for the action.

diverted to

Indicates a change in destination or purpose, where something is redirected.

repossessed for

Implies taking back possession, often due to a failure to meet obligations.

commandeered for

Suggests taking control of something for military or public use.

expropriated for

Implies the state taking private property for public use, often with compensation.

impounded for

Suggests temporary seizure, often of vehicles or documents, for legal reasons.

FAQs

How should I correctly use the word "confiscated" in a sentence?

Typically, "confiscated" should be followed by "from" to indicate the source from which something was taken. For example, "The items were confiscated from the students."

What can I say instead of "confiscated to"?

Alternatives include using "seized from" or "taken from". Rephrasing the sentence to clarify who or what the items were taken from is also a good approach.

Is "confiscated to" grammatically correct?

No, "confiscated to" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's more appropriate to use "confiscated from" or to rephrase the sentence for clarity.

How can I specify the destination or purpose after something is confiscated?

Instead of "confiscated to", specify the source with "confiscated from" and then add a separate phrase to explain the destination or purpose. For example: "The funds were confiscated from the suspect and "donated to" charity."