filing a lawsuit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "filing a lawsuit" is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
It refers to the formal process of submitting a legal complaint to a court to initiate a legal case. Example: After months of failed negotiations, John finally decided to take legal action by filing a lawsuit against his former employer for wrongful termination.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Are they filing a lawsuit?

The New York Times

And then filing a lawsuit.

The New York Times

She said that the group would consider filing a lawsuit.

The New York Times

They have discussed filing a lawsuit against the Bush administration.

The New York Times

PepsiCo retaliated by filing a lawsuit in a Delaware court.

The New York Times

Mr. Palm's stance didn't change later, even as the S.E.C. came closer to filing a lawsuit.

The New York Times

So perhaps using the system — by filing a lawsuit — might be more productive.

The New York Times

But on Aug. 13, the Justice Department sought to block it, filing a lawsuit in Washington.

The New York Times

"Are they going to arrest a blind man for filing a lawsuit?" he asked me.

The New York Times

Elliot is among a group of hospitals filing a lawsuit to stop the cuts.

The New York Times

The probability of the family filing a lawsuit, he said, was "high".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal actions, use "filing a lawsuit" to clearly indicate the initiation of a formal legal complaint. It's a straightforward and widely understood term.

Common error

Avoid replacing "filing a lawsuit" with overly formal or obscure legal terms unless the context specifically requires it. Clarity is crucial in legal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "filing a lawsuit" functions as a verbal phrase describing the action of initiating a legal case. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct and common way to express this action. The examples show it used in various contexts, primarily in news and media.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "filing a lawsuit" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe the initiation of legal proceedings. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage, particularly in news and media. While it has a neutral register, it's crucial to avoid replacing it with overly complex legal jargon for clarity. When writing about legal actions, using this phrase provides a straightforward and widely understood way to communicate that a formal legal complaint has been submitted to a court.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initiating legal proceedings

Focuses on the formal start of a legal case.

pursuing legal action

Highlights the ongoing effort to resolve a dispute through legal means.

lodging a complaint

Highlights the act of formally presenting a grievance.

bringing a case to court

Emphasizes the action of taking a dispute before a judge.

commencing litigation

Uses a more formal term for starting a lawsuit.

launching a legal challenge

Highlights the act of disputing something through legal means.

starting a legal claim

Focuses on establishing the basis for a lawsuit.

starting a legal battle

Implies a potentially lengthy and contentious legal dispute.

taking someone to court

Focuses on the action against another party.

seeking legal redress

Emphasizes the aim of obtaining compensation or a remedy through the law.

FAQs

What does "filing a lawsuit" mean?

The phrase "filing a lawsuit" refers to the formal act of submitting a legal complaint to a court, thereby initiating a legal case against another party.

What are some alternatives to "filing a lawsuit"?

You can use alternatives such as "initiating legal proceedings", "lodging a complaint", or "pursuing legal action", depending on the context.

Is "filing a lawsuit" formal or informal language?

"Filing a lawsuit" is considered neutral to formal language suitable for news reports, legal documents, and business communications. It's widely understood and generally appropriate for most contexts.

How do I use "filing a lawsuit" in a sentence?

You can use it as in, "After the negotiations failed, the company decided on "pursuing legal action" by "filing a lawsuit" against their competitor".