had been charged

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been charged" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used as the past perfect tense to show an event that happened before another event in the past. Example: The police officer had been charged with assault before the incident occurred.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They had been charged with felony hazing.

The New York Times

They had been charged with aggravated assault.

The New York Times

One had been charged with human trafficking.

The Guardian

He had been charged with murder.

The Guardian

As of Sunday night, no one had been charged.

The New York Times

Bob, being a gardener, had been charged with the task.

The New Yorker

Scheidemann had been charged with finding and preparing a replacement.

The New Yorker

In these and other attacks, no one had been charged.

The New York Times

The artist had been charged in two cases.

The New York Times

When told he had been charged with murder, she sighed.

The New York Times

Initially, he had been charged with second-degree murder.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on legal matters, use "had been charged" to clearly indicate that the charging occurred before another specific event or time in the past.

Common error

Avoid using simple past tense ("was charged") when you need to emphasize that the charging happened before another past event. "Had been charged" clarifies the sequence of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been charged" functions as the past perfect passive voice. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to indicate that someone received formal charges before another event happened in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been charged" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that someone received formal charges before another event in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as the past perfect passive voice, primarily used in news and media to report on legal proceedings and timelines. When writing, ensure you're using it to clarify the sequence of past events, and be mindful of using the correct tense. Consider using alternatives such as "was accused of" or "was indicted for" depending on the specific context. With a high expert rating and authoritative sources, "had been charged" remains a reliable and effective phrase for legal reporting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was prosecuted for

Specifically refers to the legal process of being prosecuted in court.

was accused of

This alternative focuses on the accusation aspect rather than the formal charging process.

faced accusations of

Emphasizes the confrontation with the accusations, making it suitable for contexts where the person is actively defending themselves.

was arraigned on

Describes the initial court appearance where charges are formally presented.

was indicted for

This term refers to a more formal accusation by a grand jury.

was liable for

Focuses on the legal obligation or accountability for something.

was tasked with

This shifts the meaning to being assigned a duty or responsibility, not necessarily related to legal issues.

was assigned to

Similar to "was tasked with", indicating an assignment or duty.

was entrusted to

Implies a level of trust or confidence placed in the person, again shifting away from the legal context.

bore the responsibility for

Highlights the weight of the responsibility, suitable for contexts where accountability is emphasized.

FAQs

How to use "had been charged" in a sentence?

Use "had been charged" to indicate that someone received formal charges before another event in the past. For example, "He "had been charged" with theft before he fled the country."

What's the difference between "was charged" and "had been charged"?

"Was charged" indicates a single event in the past, while ""had been charged"" indicates that the charging occurred before another event in the past. The latter emphasizes the sequence of events.

What can I say instead of "had been charged"?

You can use alternatives like "was accused of", "faced accusations of", or "was indicted for" depending on the context.

Is "had been charged" formal or informal?

"Had been charged" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, particularly in legal reporting and factual accounts. However, more informal language might be used in casual conversation.