has been guilty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been guilty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has committed an offense or wrongdoing in the past and is still considered guilty in the present context. Example: "The court has determined that he has been guilty of fraud for several years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Mr Bush himself has been guilty of monumental hypocrisy.

The Economist

Yet Jones has been guilty of perpetuating the Kelly comparisons.

Independent

But elsewhere it has been guilty of naivety.

The Economist

In my opinion Corbyn has been guilty of three things.

The Guardian - Opinion

Paul Merton has been guilty of similar if memory serves.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ms. Linares, too, has been guilty of hasty judgments.

The New York Times

It's not the first time the state-owned bank has been guilty of IT problems.

Independent

Still, he has been guilty of violating his own tenets, most obviously with weird hats.

The New York Times

Until now, this country has been guilty only by association in the illegal transfer of prisoners.

Independent

And Yanukovych has been guilty of much more serious crimes than crimes against taste".

Independent

That same regime has been guilty of profound economic mismanagement and corruption.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been guilty", ensure the context clearly specifies the offense or wrongdoing to which the subject is guilty. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "has been guilty" can sound overly formal or accusatory in casual conversation. Consider using softer alternatives like "made a mistake" or "was wrong" for everyday situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been guilty" functions as a predicate within a sentence, asserting that a subject possesses the state of being guilty of something. Ludwig AI shows this expression is most often used to assign responsibility or blame for an action or omission.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been guilty" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression. Ludwig AI validates its common usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. The phrase functions to assign blame or declare responsibility, and is generally considered to be neutral in register, fitting within academic, news, and business settings. While acceptable in many contexts, be mindful of overusing it in informal settings where softer alternatives may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has committed

Focuses on the action of committing a specific offense.

is liable

Implies legal responsibility or obligation.

is culpable

Replaces "has been guilty" with a more formal and concise term.

has acted wrongly

Indicates an action that is morally or legally incorrect.

is to blame

Places the emphasis on assigning blame for a negative event.

is at fault

Emphasizes responsibility for an error or accident.

is in the wrong

Suggests being morally or ethically incorrect.

is responsible for

Highlights accountability for an outcome or action, often in a less legalistic sense.

has erred

Indicates a mistake or deviation from correct behavior.

has transgressed

Denotes violating a law or moral principle.

FAQs

What's a less formal way to say "has been guilty"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "was wrong", "made a mistake", or "is at fault".

How does "has been guilty" differ from "has committed"?

"Has committed" focuses on the act itself, while "has been guilty" implies a judgment or finding of guilt regarding that act. "He has committed a crime" simply states the action, whereas "he has been guilty of a crime" suggests a verdict or established culpability.

Is it correct to say "has been found guilty" instead of "has been guilty"?

Yes, "has been found guilty" is a more explicit and legally precise way to express the same idea. It emphasizes that a formal judgment or determination of guilt has occurred.

What are some synonyms for "has been guilty" that maintain a formal tone?

Formal synonyms include "is culpable", "is liable", or "has transgressed", which may be appropriate in legal or official contexts.