is being prosecuted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is being prosecuted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing legal process where someone is being charged with a crime and is facing legal action. Example: "The suspect is being prosecuted for theft and could face several years in prison if convicted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

(Magnitsky, by the way, is being prosecuted posthumously).

The New York Times

The firm is being prosecuted for misleading regulators, not customers.

The Economist

The juvenile is being prosecuted as an adult.

The Washington Post

That suspect's case is being prosecuted in Queens Family Court.

The New York Times

It is being prosecuted for breaching health and safety laws.

The Guardian

"Mr. Davies is being prosecuted for serious felony offenses," Mr. Wagner wrote to Mr. Davies's lawyers.

The New York Times

He is being prosecuted because of his deplorable opinions, not because he incited violence.

The New Yorker

"Nashiri is being prosecuted at the commissions because of the torture issue," Mr. Reyes said.

The New York Times

Ahmed is being prosecuted by police over a statement that appeared on his Facebook page.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Nolan Committee thinks that the rarity of such cases suggests that only the most gross misconduct is being prosecuted.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Forlow JessiChelseaett on Twitter.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is being prosecuted" to clearly indicate that legal proceedings are currently underway against someone. It's a passive construction, so ensure the context clearly identifies who is carrying out the prosecution (e.g., "He is being prosecuted by the state").

Common error

Avoid confusing "is being prosecuted" with similar phrases like "was prosecuted" (past tense) or "is prosecuting" (active voice). "Is being prosecuted" specifically describes an ongoing action where someone is the recipient of legal action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is being prosecuted" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject is the recipient of legal action. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is being prosecuted" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to describe an ongoing legal process, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It primarily functions to inform or report that someone is currently facing legal charges. It's widely used in neutral contexts like news and media, but also appears in academic settings. When using the phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the context clearly indicates who is carrying out the prosecution and to avoid confusion with other verb tenses or voices. Alternative phrases like "is facing prosecution" or "is under indictment" can be used depending on the specific nuances you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is facing prosecution

Uses a more direct active verb ("facing") while retaining the core concept of undergoing prosecution.

is under indictment

Specifies that a formal charge has been made, implying a more advanced stage of prosecution.

is standing trial

Indicates that the legal proceedings have reached the stage of a trial.

is being tried

Similar to 'is standing trial' but emphasizes the act of conducting the trial.

faces legal charges

Focuses on the charges themselves rather than the process of prosecution.

is before the court

Indicates the person or entity is actively involved in court proceedings.

is the subject of a legal case

A broader term that encompasses any legal matter, not necessarily criminal prosecution.

is defending against charges

Highlights the defensive aspect of responding to legal accusations.

is in litigation

Indicates involvement in a lawsuit, which could be civil or criminal.

is being sued

Specifically refers to a civil lawsuit, not necessarily a criminal prosecution.

FAQs

How to use "is being prosecuted" in a sentence?

Use "is being prosecuted" to indicate that someone is currently undergoing legal proceedings for an alleged crime. For instance, "The suspect "is being prosecuted" for fraud."

What can I say instead of "is being prosecuted"?

You can use alternatives like "is facing prosecution", "is under indictment", or "is standing trial" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "is being prosecuted" or "is prosecuting"?

"Is being prosecuted" is passive and indicates that someone is the recipient of legal action. "Is prosecuting" is active and indicates that someone is initiating legal action against someone else.

What's the difference between "is being prosecuted" and "was prosecuted"?

"Is being prosecuted" indicates an ongoing legal process, while "was prosecuted" indicates a legal process that has already occurred and concluded.