filed a libel

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "filed a libel" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression is "filed a libel lawsuit" or "filed a libel claim." Example: "After the article was published, she decided to file a libel lawsuit against the newspaper for defamation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Irving filed a libel suit against her.

The Guardian - Books

Lennar, which is based here, has filed a libel and extortion lawsuit against Mr. Minkow.

The New York Times

He filed a libel suit against his accusers the Communist literary weekly Les Littres Francaises.

The New Yorker

But he has filed a libel suit against Weekly Gendai, the magazine that broke the story.

The New York Times

(She did not, and she has since filed a libel suit against the aide, the campaign, and the Governor).

The New Yorker

In turn, that big investor, Harvey Boulter, filed a libel suit against 3M, Mr. Buckley and a lawyer for the company.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

"I am challenging them to slap my face, to file a libel suit against me, but they don't.

The New York Times - Tech

"If a customer actually libels FHA, the company doesn't need to allege a breach of contract to file a libel suit," Professor Reidenberg said.

The New York Times

[PBS, Heartland Institute] The Penn State climatologist Michael E. Mann files a libel suit against the National Review and the Competitive Enterprise Institute for accusing him of academic fraud.

The New York Times

And Mr. Sheldon remained free to file a libel suit, though he would have to prove not only falsity and actual malice but also that the statement had harmed his reputation.

The New York Times

In a statement prepared by a public relations firm in New York, the fund defended its good intentions and declared that it would file a libel suit against Maariv for maligning the organization.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the phrase "filed a libel lawsuit" or "filed a defamation claim" for grammatical correctness and clarity in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using the truncated phrase "filed a libel". Always clarify that it refers to a legal action by using "filed a libel lawsuit" or an equivalent such as "filed a defamation claim".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "filed a libel" functions as a shortened, though grammatically incorrect, way to describe the initiation of legal action for defamation. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is not standard English usage and would benefit from the addition of "lawsuit" or a similar term.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

8%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "filed a libel" is frequently found in news and media sources, it's grammatically incomplete and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI highlights that the correct expression is "filed a libel lawsuit" or "filed a defamation claim". The phrase aims to communicate the initiation of legal action, but its informal nature makes it unsuitable for professional or legal contexts. Always opt for the complete and grammatically accurate phrasing for clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

filed a libel lawsuit

Adds the noun "lawsuit" to specify the type of legal action.

filed a defamation claim

Replaces "libel" with the broader term "defamation" and uses "claim" instead of "libel."

brought a libel action

Uses "brought" instead of "filed" and "action" as a synonym for "lawsuit."

initiated libel proceedings

Uses "initiated" to describe starting the legal process and "proceedings" for a formal legal process.

pursued a libel case

Replaces "filed" with "pursued" and "suit" with "case,"

started a libel suit

Replaces "filed" with "started" and "action" with "suit"

commenced libel litigation

Uses more formal terms like "commenced" and "litigation".

lodged a libel complaint

Uses "lodged" instead of "filed" and "complaint" to describe the initial formal accusation.

presented a libel charge

Uses "presented" instead of "filed" and "charge" to convey a formal accusation.

instituted a libel claim

Employs "instituted" for beginning legal proceedings and maintains "claim".

FAQs

What is the correct way to say someone started a legal action for libel?

The correct phrasing is to say someone "filed a libel lawsuit" or "filed a defamation claim". The phrase "filed a libel" is grammatically incorrect.

Is it acceptable to say "filed a libel" in legal contexts?

No, in legal and formal contexts, it is essential to use the complete phrase "filed a libel lawsuit" or a similar, grammatically correct alternative.

What can I say instead of "filed a libel"?

You can use alternatives like "filed a libel lawsuit", "brought a libel action", or "initiated libel proceedings".

What's the difference between "filed a libel" and "filed a libel lawsuit"?

The phrase "filed a libel" is an incomplete and grammatically incorrect way of saying that someone has initiated legal action for libel. The correct and complete phrase is "filed a libel lawsuit", which clearly indicates a legal proceeding.