has been commuted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been commuted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or formal contexts to indicate that a sentence or punishment has been reduced or changed to a less severe one. Example: "The death penalty for the convicted felon has been commuted to life in prison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

His sentence has been commuted to an eight month ban.

The Guardian - Sport

Separately, a 12-year sentence imposed on Atena Farghadani, an artist and women's rights activist, for depicting MPs with faces of animals has been commuted to 18 months, and her lawyer said she would be eligible for release next month.

The Guardian

This week, their initial sentences of 24 months in prison in Rio de Janeiro has been commuted to eight or 16 months of community service, depending how many hours they put in each day.

The Guardian

On Thursday Berlusconi was ordered to serve four years in prison, a sentence that has been commuted to one year under a 2006 amnesty and will consist, due to his age, of detention under house arrest or community service rather than jail.

The Guardian

The next day, the Council announced that the medics would not be executed; instead, the punishment has been commuted to life imprisonment.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Alisa Abamson, 36, who works at Morgan Stanley, has been commuting with a neighbor.

The New York Times

"He should have been prosecuted," said Martin Bowles, 48, a pensions manager who has been commuting for 25 years.

The Guardian

He has been commuting from his day job — that of chief curator at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, in Durham, N.C.

The New York Times - Arts

Officials said the bear, which has been commuting since early May between the mountains of Italy, Austria and Germany, was a risk to humans.

The Guardian

Mr. Gurman, a financial representative, lives in Weston and has been commuting from Westport to Manhattan for six years.

The New York Times

The senator has been commuting to Washington while her husband, a bond lawyer, stayed in Dallas with Bailey.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been commuted" to indicate a formal reduction or change in a sentence, particularly in legal or official contexts. For example, "The death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment."

Common error

Avoid using "commute" to describe general changes or reductions that are not related to legal sentences. Instead of saying "the fine was commuted", if it was simply reduced, say "the fine was reduced".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been commuted" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action (commuting, i.e., reducing or changing a sentence) has been performed on a subject. As evidenced by Ludwig, this construction primarily appears in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been commuted" is a grammatically sound and formally recognized expression used to indicate that a legal sentence has been officially reduced or changed. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is most prevalent in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Wiki sources. While less common in casual conversation, it serves a specific purpose in legal and official reporting. When writing, ensure this phrase is reserved for describing changes to legal sentences to avoid misuse. Alternatives like "was reduced" or "was lessened" can be used in other contexts. Finally, it's a phrase found in authoritative sources, underlining its acceptance in formal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was reduced

Focuses on the reduction in severity or length of the original sentence.

was lessened

Emphasizes the decrease in intensity or impact of the original sentence.

was mitigated

Highlights the alleviation of the negative effects of the original sentence.

was shortened

Specifically refers to a decrease in the duration of the original sentence.

was converted

Indicates a change in the type or form of the original sentence.

was altered

Highlights a change or modification to the original sentence.

was revised

Focuses on a formal review and change to the original sentence.

was amended

Similar to 'revised', but often implies a more formal or legal modification to the original sentence.

was deferred

Indicates a postponement or delay in the enforcement of the original sentence.

was suspended

Highlights a temporary cessation of the original sentence.

FAQs

How is "has been commuted" used in a sentence?

The phrase "has been commuted" indicates a legal sentence has been officially reduced or changed. For example: "The prisoner's death sentence "has been commuted" to life in prison."

What are some alternatives to "has been commuted"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "has been commuted" include phrases like "was reduced", "was lessened", or "was mitigated".

Is it correct to say "the journey was commuted"?

No, the verb "commute" in this context is incorrect. "Commute" in the legal sense means to reduce a sentence. For a journey, use words like "shortened", "altered", or "changed".

What's the difference between "has been commuted" and "has been pardoned"?

"Has been commuted" means a sentence is reduced or changed to a lesser penalty. "Has been pardoned" means the sentence is completely forgiven, and the individual is released from any further obligation.