found guilty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "found guilty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a subject who has been convicted of a crime or other offence after a court hearing. Example sentence: The defendant was found guilty of theft and sentenced to five years in prison.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I am found guilty.

The New Yorker

(All were found guilty).

The New York Times

(He was found guilty).

The New York Times

Lyons was found guilty.

Stanford University

All three were found guilty.

The New York Times

Will he be found guilty?

The Economist

He was nevertheless found guilty.

The New Yorker

They were both found guilty.

The New Yorker

All have been found guilty.

The New York Times

Rivera was found guilty again.

The New Yorker

Both are likely to be found guilty.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "found guilty" when you want to emphasize the judicial process that led to the determination of guilt. For instance, "The defendant was "found guilty" after a thorough trial."

Common error

Avoid using "found guilty" in casual conversation when a more informal term like "blamed" or "responsible" would be more appropriate. "Found guilty" carries a legal connotation that might be out of place in informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "found guilty" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject has been judged to have committed an offense. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in reporting legal outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "found guilty" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to indicate that someone has been convicted of an offense in a legal setting. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for describing legal outcomes. Its usage is most prevalent in news and media, followed by academic and encyclopedic contexts. When writing, it's best to use "found guilty" when emphasizing the legal process. For more informal situations, consider alternatives like "held responsible" or "convicted". Remember that while it's a common phrase, it carries a specific legal weight and should be used appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

convicted

A more concise and direct term for being declared guilty.

proven guilty

Emphasizes the establishment of guilt through evidence.

adjudged guilty

A more formal and legalistic way of saying "found guilty".

declared guilty

Highlights the act of formally announcing the guilt.

ruled guilty

Indicates that a court has made a guilty verdict.

determined to be guilty

Stresses the process of reaching a conclusion of guilt.

held responsible

Focuses on accountability for an action, often in a broader context.

culpable

Emphasizes the blameworthiness of the individual.

liable

Indicates legal responsibility, which can lead to a guilty verdict.

implicated

Suggests involvement in wrongdoing, potentially leading to a guilty verdict.

FAQs

How to use "found guilty" in a sentence?

You can use "found guilty" to describe the outcome of a legal trial, as in "The defendant was "found guilty" of all charges".

What can I say instead of "found guilty"?

You can use alternatives like "convicted", "proven guilty", or "held responsible" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "found guilty" or "proven guilty"?

Both "found guilty" and "proven guilty" are correct, but "found guilty" specifically refers to a verdict in a legal setting, while "proven guilty" emphasizes the evidence that led to the verdict.

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

"Found guilty" implies a judicial process leading to the verdict, while "declared guilty" emphasizes the formal announcement of the guilty verdict.