is accused of

USAGE SUMMARY

'is accused of' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when someone is believed to have done something wrong, such as a crime. Example: The suspect is accused of stealing the diamond necklace from the jewelry store.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He is accused of perjury.

Independent

A bank is accused of wrongdoing.

The Economist

More often, it is accused of "dumping".

The Economist

Mr Gupta is accused of insider trading.

The Economist

Yukos is accused of fiddling its taxes.

The Economist

He is accused of training FARC guerrillas.

The Economist

He is accused of manslaughter.

The Guardian

She is accused of dithering.

The Guardian

He is "accused" of being smart.

The New York Times - Magazine

Ledezma is accused of plotting a coup.

The Guardian

Officer Moreno is accused of raping the woman, while Officer Mata is accused of aiding him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is accused of" when referring to specific actions or behaviors. For more general misconduct, consider using "is facing allegations of".

Common error

Don't use "is accused of" in a way that suggests the person is already guilty. Maintain a neutral tone by using phrases like "allegedly" or "reportedly" to indicate that the accusations are unproven.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is accused of" functions as a passive construction indicating that someone is the recipient of an accusation. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's a valid and usable phrase in English. Examples from Ludwig show its use in various contexts, mainly within reporting on legal or ethical violations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is accused of" is a common and grammatically sound way to report accusations, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and media, it conveys that someone is facing allegations without implying guilt. When using this phrase, maintaining neutrality and avoiding premature judgment is crucial. Alternative phrases, such as "is alleged to have" or "faces allegations of", can offer nuanced ways to report accusations, and can be used depending on the specific context. Top sources include The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Economist, further solidifying its widespread use in reputable publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is charged with

Indicates a formal legal accusation.

stands accused of

A more formal and emphatic way of saying "is accused of".

is facing accusations of

Focuses on the ongoing nature of the accusations.

is alleged to have

Emphasizes that the accusation is yet to be proven.

faces allegations of

Highlights the existence of multiple accusations.

is suspected of

Suggests a strong belief in someone's involvement, often without concrete evidence.

is under suspicion for

Implies an active investigation.

is being investigated for

Highlights that a formal investigation is taking place.

is implicated in

Suggests involvement in something negative, often a crime or scandal.

is linked to

Suggests a possible connection to a crime or wrongdoing, but doesn't necessarily indicate guilt.

FAQs

How can I use "is accused of" in a sentence?

The phrase "is accused of" is used to indicate that someone is formally suspected of a wrongdoing. For example, "The CEO is accused of fraud" indicates a formal accusation but doesn't confirm guilt.

What is the difference between "is accused of" and "is charged with"?

"Is accused of" indicates a general allegation, while "is charged with" implies that formal legal charges have been filed.

What are some alternatives to "is accused of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "is alleged to have", "is suspected of", or "faces allegations of".

Is it correct to say "was accused for" instead of "is accused of"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "accused" is "of". "Is accused of" is the standard and grammatically correct phrasing. Avoid using "for" in this context.