he was sentenced to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was sentenced to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to describe the punishment given to someone by a court. Example: "After a lengthy trial, he was sentenced to five years in prison for his crimes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was sentenced to die.

Independent

In 2012, he was sentenced to death.

The New Yorker

He was sentenced to six months.

The New York Times

He was sentenced to life in prison.

The New York Times

He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Economist

He was sentenced to death in 1983.

The New York Times

He was sentenced to 16 years.

The New York Times

He was sentenced to be hanged.

The Economist

He was sentenced to five years' probation.

The New York Times

He was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Independent

He was sentenced to 30 days.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was sentenced to", ensure the context clearly identifies the crime for which the sentence was given to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify the charge before stating the sentence: "Having been found guilty of fraud, he was sentenced to five years in prison."

Common error

Avoid placing modifiers in a way that could create ambiguity. For example, instead of "He was sentenced to prison for life, regrettably", write "Regrettably, he was sentenced to life in prison" to clearly indicate that the regret applies to the sentencing, not his entire life.

Linguistic Context

"He was sentenced to" functions as a passive construction indicating the imposition of a legal penalty. The phrase highlights the action of the court or legal system in assigning a punishment to an individual, following a conviction. This construction is frequently found in legal reporting and discussions, as Ludwig examples show.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was sentenced to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, primarily found in news and academic contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common use in describing legal punishments. To enhance clarity, ensure the crime is clearly specified. While the phrase is generally neutral, consider the specific nuance you want to convey by exploring alternatives like "he received a sentence of". By understanding these nuances, you can effectively communicate the outcome of legal proceedings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he received a sentence of

Emphasizes the reception of the sentence, rather than the act of sentencing.

the court handed down a sentence of

Highlights the court's role in delivering the sentence.

he was given a term of

Focuses on the duration of the sentence.

he faced a penalty of

Emphasizes the punitive aspect of the sentencing.

the judge imposed a sentence of

Highlights the judge's authority in the sentencing.

he was condemned to

Implies a strong sense of disapproval or moral judgment.

the verdict was

Refers to the judgment or decision itself, leading to the sentence.

he got

A more casual way of saying he received a sentence

the court decided on

Referring to the final call from the court, that resulted in the sentence

he drew a sentence of

Focuses on the drawing from different type of sentences

FAQs

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

Use "he was sentenced to" to describe the punishment a court has given to someone. For example, "After being convicted of fraud, he was sentenced to five years in prison."

What can I say instead of "he was sentenced to"?

You can use alternatives like "he received a sentence of", "he was given a term of", or "the court handed down a sentence of" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Refer to "he received a sentence of" for a more detailed look.

Is it correct to say "he is sentenced to"?

While grammatically possible, "he is sentenced to" is less common and typically used when referring to a sentencing that is currently in progress or has very recently occurred. "He was sentenced to" is more common for past events.

What's the difference between "he was sentenced to" and "he was convicted of"?

"He was convicted of" refers to the act of being found guilty of a crime, while "he was sentenced to" refers to the punishment given after the conviction. You are convicted of a crime, and then you are sentenced to a punishment.