has been sentenced

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been sentenced" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about a recent court decision that has been made. For example, "The defendant has been sentenced to 10 years in jail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Mr. Drotleff has been sentenced to 37 months in prison.

The New York Times

He has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The Guardian

No one has been sentenced to prison, they said.

The New York Times

Williams has been sentenced to life in prison.

The Guardian

He has been sentenced to 26 months in prison.

The New York Times

It is very clear he has been sentenced to death for apostasy," Coogle said.

Independent

Bradley Manning has been sentenced to thirty-five years in prison.

The New Yorker

Namangani has been sentenced to death in absentia for subversive activities, murder, and bombings in Uzbekistan.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

A businessman who plied teenage girls with vodka before sexually abusing them has been sentenced to 13 years.

BBC

"And it will not conclude until the last person responsible has been sentenced by a judge".

Vice

A paedophile doctor who abused young cancer patients has been sentenced to 22 years in jail.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting legal news, use "has been sentenced" to clearly communicate the outcome of a trial or legal proceeding. Be sure to specify the length and type of sentence (e.g., "has been sentenced to five years in prison").

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses when reporting on sentencing. "Was sentenced" implies the sentencing occurred in the past and is no longer current, while "has been sentenced" indicates a recently completed legal action with ongoing implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been sentenced" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone has received a legal sentence. It describes the result of a judicial process, highlighting the imposition of a penalty. Ludwig provides many examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been sentenced" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to report a recent court decision. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to inform the audience about legal outcomes. While the phrase is neutral in tone, its passive construction lends a degree of formality. Alternatives like "was given a sentence of" or "received a sentence of" can be used depending on the desired nuance. When using this phrase, remember to provide specific details about the sentence imposed. Avoid tense errors by ensuring the tense accurately reflects the timing of the sentencing relative to the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was given a sentence of

Replaces "has been sentenced" with a more descriptive verb phrase, specifying the act of giving a sentence.

received a sentence of

Focuses on the reception of the sentence by the individual, rather than the act of sentencing.

was handed down a sentence of

Emphasizes the formal delivery of the sentence by the court.

is serving a sentence of

Shifts the focus to the ongoing nature of serving the sentence.

faces a sentence of

Highlights the potential or impending nature of the sentence.

is condemned to

Implies a strong disapproval and imposition of a harsh penalty.

is imprisoned for

Specifically mentions imprisonment as the consequence.

is incarcerated for

A more formal synonym for "is imprisoned for".

is penalized with

Focuses on the act of penalizing rather than the specific sentence.

was judged to

Highlights the act of judging and determining the outcome.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been sentenced" to report the outcome of a trial, as in, "The defendant "has been sentenced" to life in prison for the crime".

What's the difference between "has been sentenced" and "was sentenced"?

"Has been sentenced" implies a recently concluded action with ongoing implications, while "was sentenced" refers to a past event without necessarily implying current relevance. For example, "He "was sentenced" in 2010" versus "He "has been sentenced" this week".

What can I say instead of "has been sentenced"?

You can use alternatives like "was given a sentence of", "received a sentence of", or "is serving a sentence of" depending on the specific context.

Is "has been sentenced" formal or informal language?

"Has been sentenced" is considered neutral and appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, particularly in news reporting and legal discussions.