has been indicted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been indicted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that someone has been formally charged with a crime by a grand jury. Example: "The politician has been indicted on charges of corruption and bribery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cohen has been indicted, and Corsi is expecting an indictment.

Los Angeles Times

Even his own butler has been indicted.

The New York Times

Hampton, however, has been indicted.

The Washington Post

Yekaterina Korolkova has been indicted.

The New York Times

Rosell has been indicted alongside Teixeira.

The Guardian - Sport

No one has been indicted in that matter.

The New York Times

A Reddit founder has been indicted on fraud charges.

The New York Times

Instead, it is his firm that has been indicted.

The New Yorker

He, too, has been indicted by the ICC.

The Economist

He also has been indicted on multiple weapons possession charges.

The Washington Post

Mr. Causey has been indicted on multiple counts of fraud.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a legal process involving an indictment, clearly state what the person "has been indicted" for to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Don't use "has been indicted" as a synonym for "has been convicted". An indictment is a formal accusation, not a judgment of guilt. Ensure your writing accurately reflects the stage of the legal process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been indicted" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject of the sentence has received the action of being formally accused of a crime by a grand jury. As shown in Ludwig, this passive construction emphasizes the legal process undergone by the individual.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been indicted" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive verb phrase that denotes a formal accusation of a crime by a grand jury. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and prevalence, particularly in News & Media. While conveying factual information about legal proceedings, it's important to use this phrase precisely and avoid confusing an indictment with a conviction. Related phrases like "has been charged" or "is facing prosecution" may offer suitable alternatives depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been charged

Replaces "indicted" with the more general term "charged", implying a formal accusation but not necessarily by a grand jury.

was formally charged

Emphasizes the formality of the accusation, similar to "has been indicted".

is under indictment

Highlights the state of being formally accused by a grand jury.

is facing charges

Indicates that someone is currently subject to legal accusations, focusing on the present state.

has been formally accused

Combines "formally" and "accused" to convey a similar level of official accusation as "indicted".

is facing prosecution

Focuses on the legal process that follows an indictment, emphasizing the intent to prosecute.

an indictment has been issued against

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the indictment itself.

has been accused of

Uses "accused" instead of "indicted", suggesting an allegation but not necessarily a formal indictment.

is to stand trial

Indicates the next step after indictment, focusing on the upcoming legal proceedings.

faces indictment

Shortened, more direct version indicating the potential for indictment.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone "has been indicted"?

When someone "has been indicted", it means a grand jury has formally accused them of committing a crime, based on presented evidence. This is not a determination of guilt, but rather the initiation of criminal proceedings.

Is being "accused of" the same as "has been indicted"?

No, being "accused of" is a general term for alleging wrongdoing. "Has been indicted" is a specific legal term meaning a grand jury has found enough evidence to formally charge someone with a crime. You can use alternatives like "has been charged" to indicate a formal accusation.

What happens after someone "has been indicted"?

After someone "has been indicted", they will typically be arraigned, where they enter a plea. The case then proceeds through pre-trial motions, discovery, and potentially a trial, where a judge or jury determines guilt or innocence.

What are some alternatives to saying someone "has been indicted"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "is facing charges", "was formally charged", or "is under indictment" to convey a similar meaning.