in order to prosecute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in order to prosecute" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when explaining the purpose or intention behind taking legal action against someone. Example: "The evidence was gathered in order to prosecute the defendant for the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

The Crown Prosecution Service said that in order to prosecute the guards for "gross negligence manslaughter" they would need to prove he was held in a "severely splinted position" – bent over with his head either on or below his knees and his diaphragm restricted – for a sufficient period of time to show that the actions of the security guards were more than a minimal cause of his death.

The Guardian

We don't need it in order to prosecute the war on terrorism.

The New York Times

But there's a lot more information we want to put together in order to prosecute someone".

The New York Times

This trimmed one of the key powers that Mr Bush was claiming in order to prosecute the war on terrorism.

The Economist

In order to prosecute these and similar actions, companies are asking courts to order Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to reveal the identity of anonymous posters.

Harvard University

But the trouble was that, in order to prosecute anyone, it was best to get a bribe on tape, and that was hard.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

"The military and the state are trying to push the Brotherhood to lose any hope that he will be reinstated," Khalil al-Anani, an expert on Islamist movements at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said of the order to prosecute Mr. Morsi.

The New York Times

"The public's right to know what governments do in our name is being overridden by public servants seeking to cover up a scandal in order to persecute and prosecute a whistleblower.

The Guardian

In this instance, in order for society to prosecute men for fetal harm they have to first violently bludgeon or kill their pregnant counterparts.

Huffington Post

The ACLU also asks federal officials to reduce criminal prosecutions for illegal entry and illegal re-entry in order to avoid prosecuting people before they have a chance to present claims to stay in the country.

Huffington Post

Hatch has proposed legislation to provide a default mens rea — literally, "guilty mind" — standard to govern cases in which a particular statute doesn't spell out the required state of mind: The defendant would have to have engaged in a criminal act "willfully" in order to be prosecuted.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in order to prosecute", ensure the context clearly defines what actions are being taken or what evidence is being gathered for the purpose of the legal action.

Common error

Avoid using "in order to prosecute" when a simpler infinitive phrase like "to prosecute" suffices. Redundancy can weaken your writing. For instance, instead of saying "Evidence was collected in order to prosecute", consider "Evidence was collected to prosecute".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in order to prosecute" functions as a purpose clause, indicating the reason or intention behind an action. It's used to explain why certain steps are being taken, specifically in the context of legal proceedings. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

16%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in order to prosecute" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to express the purpose or intention behind taking legal action. As Ludwig AI verifies, it is widely accepted in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, as well as in academic and formal writing. While acceptable, it's important to consider whether a more concise alternative, such as "to prosecute", might be more effective. Overuse can lead to redundancy, weakening the overall impact of your writing. The examples provided demonstrate the phrase's usage across various reliable sources, offering a comprehensive understanding of its proper application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to initiate prosecution

Replaces the "in order to" construction with a more direct infinitive phrase.

for the purpose of prosecuting

Replaces "in order to" with "for the purpose of", emphasizing the aim.

with the intent to prosecute

Uses "with the intent to" to highlight the intention behind the action.

to bring legal action

Replaces "prosecute" with a broader term for legal action, suitable when the specific type of action is less important.

to pursue charges

Focuses on the act of officially charging someone with a crime.

for legal proceedings

Emphasizes the procedural aspect of taking legal steps.

to file a lawsuit

Specifies the action of initiating a civil case.

to press charges

Highlights the act of formally accusing someone.

with the goal of prosecution

Emphasizes the objective of the legal process.

aiming to prosecute

Uses a participial phrase to show the intended outcome of an action.

FAQs

How can I use "in order to prosecute" in a sentence?

Use "in order to prosecute" to introduce a reason or purpose for taking legal action. For example, "The police gathered more evidence in order to prosecute the suspect".

What are some alternatives to "in order to prosecute"?

Alternatives include "to initiate prosecution", "for the purpose of prosecuting", or "with the intent to prosecute". Choose the phrase that best fits the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to use "in order to prosecute" or simply "to prosecute"?

While both are grammatically correct, "to prosecute" is often more concise and direct. Use "in order to prosecute" when you want to emphasize the purpose or intention behind an action, but be mindful of potential redundancy.

What's the difference between "in order to prosecute" and "in order to persecute"?

"In order to prosecute" refers to taking legal action against someone for a crime, whereas "in order to persecute" implies harassing or oppressing someone, often unfairly. The words have very different meanings and should not be confused.