has been incarcerated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been incarcerated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is currently in prison or has been imprisoned in the past. Example: "The suspect has been incarcerated for several months while awaiting trial."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He has been incarcerated without being charged with a crime.

The New York Times

Mr. Alcala has been incarcerated in California for more than 30 years.

The New York Times

"By the time I get home in '72, my brother has been incarcerated," he said.

The New Yorker

Since 2006, he has been incarcerated in Britain on other charges, including incitement to murder.

The New York Times

Another Qaddafi son, Seif al-Islam, has been incarcerated in Libya since November 2011.

The New York Times

Dassey, 27, has been incarcerated since 2007 over the murder of Teresa Halbach, a local photographer.

The Guardian

She has been incarcerated on three different occasions and received 60 to 70 lashes each time.

The Guardian

Bethany has been incarcerated there since stabbing her Evangelical Christian mother to death with a screwdriver.

The Guardian - Books

But she said she has been incarcerated and interrogated several times since.

The Guardian

In Vasily Grossman's extraordinary final novel, Ivan Grigoryevich has been incarcerated in the Gulag for 30 years.

Independent

She has been incarcerated since her arrest in July because she was unable to raise $85,000 for bail.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when choosing between "has been incarcerated" and its synonyms. "Jailed" or "imprisoned" might be more appropriate for less formal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "has been incarcerated" interchangeably with "has been arrested". Arrest implies being taken into custody, while incarceration indicates imprisonment after a conviction or sentencing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been incarcerated" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that someone has undergone the action of being imprisoned. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been incarcerated" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive verb phrase indicating that someone has been imprisoned. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is predominantly used in news and media contexts to report on individuals who are serving or have served prison sentences. While synonyms like "has been imprisoned" or "has been jailed" exist, "has been incarcerated" carries a more formal and neutral tone. Understanding its proper use and context is crucial for accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been imprisoned

Replaces "incarcerated" with a more common synonym, "imprisoned".

has been jailed

Uses "jailed", a more informal synonym for "incarcerated".

has been in prison

Simple and direct way to express the state of imprisonment.

has been confined

Emphasizes the restriction of movement, focusing on the act of being confined.

has been detained

Highlights the act of being held in custody, often before formal charges.

has been held in custody

More explicitly states the condition of being in custody.

has served time

Focuses on the completion of a prison sentence.

is serving a sentence

Highlights the ongoing nature of the imprisonment.

is behind bars

An idiomatic expression for being in prison.

is doing time

Another idiomatic expression for serving a prison sentence, slightly more informal.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say someone is in prison?

A more formal way to say someone is in prison is to say they "has been incarcerated" or "has been imprisoned".

How does "has been incarcerated" differ from "has been arrested"?

"Has been incarcerated" indicates someone is serving a prison sentence after being convicted. "Has been arrested" simply means someone has been taken into custody, not necessarily convicted of a crime.

What are some less formal synonyms for "has been incarcerated"?

Less formal synonyms include "has been jailed", "is behind bars", or "is doing time".

Is it correct to use "has been incarcerated" for someone awaiting trial?

While technically possible, it's more accurate to use terms like "has been detained" or "is being held" for someone awaiting trial, as "has been incarcerated" usually implies a conviction and sentencing.