declared guilty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declared guilty" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that someone has been officially declared guilty of a crime in a court of law. For example, "The suspect was declared guilty by the judge and sentenced to five years in prison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

The athlete is declared guilty of doping only if the second lab also detects EPO.

The New York Times - Sports

The guilty going free is more politically volatile than the innocent being declared guilty".

The New York Times

Chen Yongzhou has been declared guilty before any case has been heard in court.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He's been declared guilty before he has even been tried," he added.

The Guardian - Sport

Douglas was declared guilty of libel and incarcerated for six months.

The New York Times - Books

These people Gordon is thinking about have already been declared "guilty" and lost everything for what they did.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Dennett hides his prejudice behind the seemingly innocuous "innocent until proven guilty" standard -- without realizing he has actually declared animals guilty until proven innocent.

Huffington Post

They have been told they ought not get involved in too much technicality, and that broadly if they get a feeling that a person is guilty, then declare him guilty and if he is innocent, then declare him innocent".

BBC

His opponent Hillary Clinton may have been found not guilty of criminal wrongdoing by any number of government agencies, but Trump declared her guilty anyhow and worked his base into a chanting frenzy by merely mentioning her name.

Huffington Post

(On Friday in Moscow, a judge declared them guilty).

The New York Times - Arts

He was declared not guilty but he wasn't vindicated.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "declared guilty" when emphasizing the formal announcement of a guilty verdict by an authority, such as a judge or jury. This phrase is particularly suitable in legal reporting and historical accounts.

Common error

Avoid using "declared guilty" in contexts where the judgment is informal or speculative. This phrase implies a formal legal determination, so it's unsuitable for expressing personal opinions or unconfirmed allegations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declared guilty" functions as a passive construction indicating that someone has been officially judged culpable. Ludwig examples showcase its use in legal and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "declared guilty" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that an individual or entity has been formally judged responsible for a crime or wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI highlights, its primary function is to report legal outcomes, predominantly within news and media contexts. While synonyms like "found guilty" and "convicted of" exist, "declared guilty" specifically emphasizes the official pronouncement of the verdict. The best practice is to reserve this term for situations involving formal legal judgments, avoiding its use in informal or speculative scenarios. It's crucial to understand that "declared guilty" cannot occur before due process. Ludwig's extensive examples demonstrate its prevalence in reporting legal proceedings and its authoritative usage across diverse sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

found guilty

Replaces "declared" with "found", implying a discovery of guilt rather than a pronouncement.

convicted of

Uses the verb "convicted", which refers to the legal process resulting in a guilty verdict.

pronounced guilty

Substitutes "declared" with "pronounced", emphasizing the act of formally announcing the verdict.

ruled guilty

Employs "ruled", indicating a judgment or decision by an authority.

adjudged guilty

Uses the more formal and legal term "adjudged", meaning to determine or pronounce judicially.

deemed culpable

Replaces "guilty" with "culpable", a synonym indicating blameworthiness.

judged to be guilty

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the act of judging someone as guilty.

held accountable

Shifts the focus to responsibility and consequence rather than a formal verdict.

condemned for

Implies a strong disapproval and judgment, often with a moral or ethical dimension.

determined to be at fault

Focuses on the determination of fault, which can be broader than legal guilt.

FAQs

How is "declared guilty" used in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, "declared guilty" signifies that a court or other official body has formally announced that a person is responsible for committing a crime. It is often followed by sentencing or other legal consequences.

What's the difference between "found guilty" and "declared guilty"?

"Found guilty" typically refers to the process of a jury or judge determining guilt after reviewing evidence, while "declared guilty" emphasizes the official announcement of that verdict. They are often used interchangeably, but "declared" highlights the act of pronouncement.

What are some synonyms for "declared guilty"?

Alternatives include "convicted of", "pronounced guilty", and "adjudged guilty", each carrying slightly different nuances related to the legal process and the announcement of the verdict.

Can someone be "declared guilty" before a trial?

No, the phrase implies a formal legal determination made by a court or other official body. It is improper to state that someone is "declared guilty" before the completion of a trial and due process.