has been convicted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been convicted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has been found guilty of a crime by a legal authority in the past and the conviction is relevant to the present context. Example: "The defendant has been convicted of theft and is now serving a sentence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"He has been convicted..

Independent

But no one has been convicted.

The New York Times

"Not one officer has been convicted.

The New Yorker

One man has been convicted.

The Guardian

Therefore anyone that has been convicted has been convicted unlawfully".

The Guardian

Nobody has been convicted of her murder.

The Washington Post

Only one noncitizen has been convicted.

The Washington Post

No one has been convicted of anything.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Few perpetrators have been convicted.

The Economist

Five defendants have been convicted and sentenced.

The Economist

Only 24 lawmakers have been convicted.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on legal cases, specify the crime for which someone "has been convicted" to provide full context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "has been convicted" when referring to ongoing trials or unproven accusations. Use it only after a final guilty verdict has been reached.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been convicted" serves as a past participle construction indicating that someone has received a guilty verdict in a court of law. This is based on the examples provided and the Ludwig AI stating its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been convicted" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that someone has been found guilty of a crime in a court of law. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to convey factual legal information. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it maintains a neutral to professional register. Writers should use it accurately, ensuring the verdict is final and specifying the crime for clarity. Considering alternatives such as "was found guilty" can provide stylistic variation while maintaining semantic accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was found guilty

Replaces "has been convicted" with a more direct statement of guilt.

received a guilty verdict

Focuses on the outcome of the trial rather than the action of convicting.

was judged to be guilty

Emphasizes the judicial assessment of guilt.

was sentenced for

Highlights the punishment received as a result of the conviction.

was given a conviction

Another way to state that someone received a conviction.

is a convicted criminal

Focuses on the person's status after the conviction.

has a criminal record

Indicates the existence of a past conviction, not necessarily the most recent one.

was legally determined to be culpable

More formal and legalistic way of saying someone has been found guilty.

was adjudged guilty

Similar to 'was judged guilty' but with a slightly more archaic tone.

is serving time for

Emphasizes the ongoing imprisonment due to the conviction.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "has been convicted" in simpler terms?

You can use phrases like "was found guilty", "received a guilty verdict", or "was sentenced" as alternatives to "has been convicted".

What does it mean when someone "has been convicted" of a crime?

It means that a court of law has found them guilty of committing a crime and a final verdict was reached.

Is it appropriate to say someone "has been convicted" if they are appealing the decision?

It's technically accurate, but it's best to also mention the ongoing appeal to provide a complete picture. For example: 'The defendant "has been convicted", but is currently appealing the decision'.

What's the difference between "has been arrested" and "has been convicted"?

"Has been arrested" means someone has been taken into custody, while ""has been convicted"" means they have been found guilty in court. Arrest is the beginning of the legal process, conviction is the end.