hold guilty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold guilty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone has been found or convicted of a crime or wrongdoing. Example: The judge held the defendant guilty of the charges.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

His view — transposed nearly four centuries in time — still may hold: guilty ruminations and panic attacks can be symptoms of an underlying depression.

The New York Times

All the videographic evidence in the world won't hold guilty parties responsible.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I don't think they ought to be held guilty.

The New York Times

But if the BBC is held guilty, what about other bodies?

Independent

Section II explains why Herzog ought not to be held guilty of any crime of risk-creation.

Yale University

No one should be held guilty retrospectively of a criminal offence.

The Guardian - Opinion

The judgment came as bittersweet however; in the eyes of the court, all of them are held guilty.

The Economist

Under the Charter von Papen can be held guilty only if he was a party to the planning of aggressive war.

Yale University

Mr. Mazurier is a French national and a diplomat, which means that if he is held guilty, he could seek diplomatic immunity against prosecution in India.

The New York Times

A raid was conducted in the Chota Bazar area of Srinagar, and legal action has been initiated against those held guilty.

The New York Times

Our past will not be quiet, it will not go away, independently of the fact that the young cannot be held guilty...

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hold guilty" when referring to a formal or considered judgment of someone's culpability, particularly in legal or ethical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "hold guilty" in casual conversation; it is more appropriate for formal settings like legal analyses or journalistic reporting on court cases. Reserve it for situations where a deliberate assessment of guilt is implied.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold guilty" functions as a verb phrase followed by an adjective, indicating the act of judging or considering someone to be responsible for wrongdoing or a crime. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage is valid in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hold guilty" signifies the act of judging or deeming someone responsible for wrongdoing. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is relatively rare. It finds its primary application in formal contexts such as news reporting and academic discussions, where precision is paramount. Understanding the subtle nuances of "hold guilty" – distinguishing it from related phrases like "hold someone accountable" – can significantly enhance clarity in legal, ethical, and journalistic writing. Remember to employ "held guilty" when referring to past events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

find someone guilty

Focuses on the act of discovering or declaring someone's guilt, rather than the act of considering them guilty.

consider someone guilty

Emphasizes the act of regarding someone as guilty, often before a formal judgment.

deem someone guilty

Highlights a formal or authoritative assessment of guilt.

convict someone of

Specifically refers to a legal finding of guilt in a court of law.

judge someone guilty

Implies a formal pronouncement of guilt, often in a legal or moral context.

hold someone accountable

Focuses on making someone answerable for their actions, which may or may not involve guilt.

find someone responsible

Centers on attributing responsibility for an action, not necessarily implying criminal guilt.

impute guilt to someone

Suggests attributing guilt, often when the guilt is not directly proven.

pronounce someone guilty

Emphasizes a formal, often public, declaration of guilt.

adjudge someone guilty

Indicates a legal judgment of guilt after due consideration.

FAQs

How to use "hold guilty" in a sentence?

You can use "hold guilty" in sentences like: "The court will decide whether to hold the defendant guilty of the crime" or "The investigation aims to hold the responsible parties guilty of negligence".

What can I say instead of "hold guilty"?

You can use alternatives like "find someone guilty", "consider someone guilty", or "deem someone guilty" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "hold guilty" or "held guilty"?

"Hold guilty" is the infinitive form, while "held guilty" is the past tense/past participle. Use "held guilty" when referring to a past event: "The defendant was held guilty last week".

What's the difference between "hold someone accountable" and "hold guilty"?

"Hold someone accountable" focuses on making someone answer for their actions, while "hold guilty" specifically refers to a judgment of guilt. You can "hold someone accountable" without necessarily holding them guilty of a crime.