he was acquitted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was acquitted" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means that someone has been found not guilty in a court of law. Example: After a long trial, the accused was finally acquitted of all charges due to lack of evidence.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was acquitted.

Yale University

Fortunately, he was acquitted.

The New Yorker

(He was acquitted in 1994).

The New York Times

Nevertheless, he was acquitted.

The Guardian - Music

He was acquitted and reinstated.

The New York Times

He was acquitted last Friday.

The New York Times

He was acquitted in May.

The New York Times

He was acquitted on retrial.

The Washington Post

Eleven months later, he was acquitted.

The New Yorker

He was acquitted in both trials.

The New York Times

He was acquitted of 39 counts.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal proceedings, use "he was acquitted" to clearly and concisely convey that the person was found not guilty. This phrase is widely understood and accepted in legal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "he was acquitted" when the case is still open or the individual is only temporarily released. Acquittal signifies a final judgment of not guilty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was acquitted" functions as a declarative statement indicating that a person was found not guilty in a court of law. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was acquitted" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to indicate that someone has been found not guilty in a court of law. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. This phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, followed by Academia and Encyclopedias. While alternatives like "he was found not guilty" or "he was exonerated" exist, "he was acquitted" provides a concise and direct way to convey the outcome of a legal trial. Remember to use this phrase only when a final judgment of not guilty has been reached.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was found not guilty

Replaces "acquitted" with a more explicit description of the legal outcome.

he was cleared of all charges

Emphasizes the removal of all accusations against him.

he was exonerated

Implies a more formal and complete declaration of innocence.

the charges against him were dropped

Focuses on the action of dismissing the legal proceedings.

he was absolved of responsibility

Shifts the focus to the removal of blame or obligation.

he walked free

Describes the result of the acquittal in simpler, more visual terms.

he was released

Highlights the act of being freed from custody or legal constraints.

he had the verdict overturned

Indicates a reversal of a previous guilty verdict.

he prevailed in court

Focuses on the success in the legal process.

he won his case

Simplifies the outcome to a general victory.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone "was acquitted"?

When someone "was acquitted", it means they were found not guilty of the crime they were accused of in a court of law.

How to use "he was acquitted" in a sentence?

You can use "he was acquitted" to report the outcome of a trial, such as: "After a lengthy trial, "he was acquitted" due to lack of evidence."

What are some alternatives to saying "he was acquitted"?

Alternatives include saying "he was found not guilty", "he was cleared of all charges", or "he was exonerated" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "acquitted" and "exonerated"?

"Acquitted" means found not guilty by a court. "Exonerated" implies a complete clearance of blame, often with evidence proving innocence. While similar, "he was exonerated" carries a stronger sense of vindication than "he was acquitted".