convicted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "convicted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a legal context to indicate that someone has been found guilty of a crime by a court of law. Example: "After a lengthy trial, the defendant was convicted of theft and sentenced to five years in prison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He said in his letters the detention had not led him to being charged formally, "much less convicted of any crime".

The Guardian

Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, the voice of fiery al-Qaida propaganda videotapes after the September 11 attacks, was convicted Wednesday of conspiring to kill Americans for his role as the terror group's spokesman.

The Guardian

The council had been asked to rule on the case of Ahmed Sahnouni, a Moroccan-born man naturalised in 2003, who was convicted and given a seven-year prison sentence in March 2013 for "association with criminals in relation to a terrorist plot".

The Guardian

They spent months in jail before being released on their own recognizance in November 2013, and then were convicted on a lesser charge of child endangerment and sentenced to three years in prison in March of this year.

The Guardian

"I have no doubt," wrote Mr Gwynne, confidently, "that the vast majority of the public will find it profoundly unacceptable that a convicted criminal with such disregard for British justice continues to hold such an illustrious honour".

The Guardian - Opinion

In August Nadir was convicted on 10 "specimen counts" of theft relating to £29m stolen in the late 1980s from the then FTSE 100 company he ran.

The Guardian - Business

The Association of Chief Police Officers claims that in the four years after the act became law in May 2001, the DNA samples of 8,500 people who were not convicted of an offence were later linked to 14,000 offences, including 114 murders and 116 rapes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Their fellow prisoners will be a mixture of first-time offenders and seasoned recidivists, convicted for offences ranging from petty theft to murder.

The Guardian

Members of the English Defence League (EDL) and the National Front have voiced support for the 33-year-old, who was declared sane and convicted by an Oslo court nine days ago after killing 77 people in two attacks last year.

The Guardian

Its investigations have also resulted in 107 officials in the law enforcement agencies being convicted.

The Guardian

Although the man convicted of the murders is mentioned in the film, he is a long way from the focus of the story.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal matters, ensure "convicted" is followed by "of" and the specific crime, such as "convicted of fraud".

Common error

Avoid using "convicted" in the context of civil cases. "Convicted" is strictly reserved for criminal proceedings; use "found liable" for civil cases.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "convicted" is as a past participle or past tense verb, typically used in the passive voice to indicate that someone has been found guilty of a crime. Ludwig indicates that the usage is correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "convicted" is a verb form used to describe the legal finding of guilt in a criminal trial. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage is grammatically correct and highly prevalent, especially in news and media contexts. It's crucial to reserve "convicted" exclusively for criminal cases, avoiding its use in civil matters where terms like "found liable" are more appropriate. When using "convicted", always follow it with "of" and the specific crime. Alternatives such as "found guilty" or "declared guilty" can be used, though "convicted" is the most common and direct term in legal and journalistic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

found guilty

Replaces the verb "convicted" with a verb phrase indicating the same outcome of a trial.

adjudged guilty

Uses a more formal verb "adjudged" to convey the legal determination of guilt.

declared guilty

Employs a straightforward declaration of guilt, simpler than "convicted".

proven guilty

Focuses on the evidentiary aspect of establishing guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

held accountable

Highlights the responsibility assigned to the individual for their actions, leading to a guilty verdict.

sentenced for

Shifts the focus to the punishment phase following a conviction.

imprisoned for

Specifically indicates incarceration as a consequence of the guilty verdict.

prosecuted successfully

Highlights the success of the legal process in securing a guilty verdict.

judged to be culpable

Uses "culpable" to emphasize the blameworthiness of the individual.

given a guilty verdict

Emphasizes the jury's or judge's decision in the trial.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "convicted" of a crime?

To be "convicted" means that a person has been found guilty of a crime in a court of law. This typically follows a trial or a guilty plea.

What is the difference between being "convicted" and being "charged with" a crime?

Being "charged with" a crime means that a person has been formally accused, while being "convicted" means they have been found guilty after a trial or plea.

What are some alternatives to using the word "convicted"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "found guilty", "adjudged guilty", or "declared guilty" as alternatives to "convicted".

Can a "convicted" person appeal their case?

Yes, a person who has been "convicted" of a crime typically has the right to appeal their case to a higher court, especially if they believe there were errors in the trial or legal proceedings.