had an arrest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had an arrest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone was taken into custody by law enforcement in the past. Example: "After the investigation, it was revealed that he had an arrest for theft several years ago."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Neither had an arrest record.

The New York Times

She said that Mr. Garcia had an arrest record.

The New York Times

The police said Ms. Barksdale had an arrest history but declined to provide details.

The New York Times

In November, it was discovered that a replacement worker had an arrest record.

The New York Times

Both were adults, the investigator said, and at least one had an arrest record.

The New York Times

The victim had an arrest record, including drug charges, the police said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Solo lines in the ensemble occasionally had an arresting improvisatory quality.

Los Angeles Times

Mr. Ubiles has an arrest record that includes charges of robbery, assault and drug possession.

The New York Times

Protesting for a cause – and having an arrest on record – can have a long-term effect.

The Guardian - Money

Ms. Coakley said Mr. McDermott did not appear to have an arrest record.

The New York Times

But its hiring procedures were criticized when the worker turned out to have an arrest record.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about someone's past, using "had an arrest" is a neutral way to state the fact. Use it when providing background information or discussing legal history.

Common error

Avoid using "had an arrest" in a way that implies guilt or prejudice. Focus on factual reporting rather than making assumptions about someone's character based solely on their arrest record.

Linguistic Context

"Had an arrest" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating that a person has a record of being arrested at some point in their past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and is used to provide background information. The examples show its use in news reports and legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had an arrest" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that someone has a prior arrest record. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It's primarily used in neutral contexts, such as news reports, to convey factual information without implying guilt. While it's essential to use this phrase accurately and without bias, alternative phrases like "was arrested" or "was taken into custody" may be suitable depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was arrested

Replaces "had an arrest" with a simpler, more direct verb phrase.

faced arrest

Implies confrontation with law enforcement without explicitly stating an arrest occurred.

was taken into custody

Formal and neutral way of saying someone was arrested.

had a record of arrest

Focuses on the existence of a record, rather than the event itself.

was apprehended

Emphasizes the act of being caught by law enforcement.

had an outstanding warrant

Highlights the existence of a warrant that led to a potential arrest.

was charged

Specifies that formal charges were filed following an arrest.

was detained

Suggests a temporary holding by law enforcement, potentially leading to an arrest.

had a brush with the law

Informal way of indicating an encounter with law enforcement, possibly resulting in an arrest.

was a suspect

Indicates being considered by law enforcement without confirming an arrest.

FAQs

How can I use "had an arrest" in a sentence?

You can use "had an arrest" to factually state that someone was previously arrested. For example, "The background check revealed that the applicant "had an arrest" for a minor offense several years ago".

What's a more formal alternative to "had an arrest"?

A more formal alternative is "was taken into custody". This phrase is often used in legal and official contexts to maintain a neutral tone.

Is it appropriate to say someone "had an arrest" without further context?

It depends on the situation. While factually correct, stating that someone "had an arrest" without providing context can be misleading. It's best to include details about the nature of the arrest and its outcome to avoid unfair judgment.

What is the difference between "was arrested" and "had an arrest"?

"was arrested" describes the act of being arrested, while "had an arrest" describes the state of having a prior arrest record. The first focuses on the event, the second on the resulting record.