is under arrest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is under arrest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts to indicate that someone has been taken into custody by law enforcement. Example: "The suspect is under arrest for theft and will be arraigned tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He is under arrest.

The Economist

Mr Chen is under arrest awaiting charges of alleged corruption.

The Economist

Mrs. Breitwieser is under arrest in Strasbourg, France.

The New York Times - Arts

He is under arrest in Germany and fighting extradition.

The New York Times

Have we been told Tietjens is under arrest?

The Guardian - Books

"You know Rich is under arrest don't you?

The Guardian

The most reviled man in Bangladesh, Sohel Rana, 35, is under arrest.

The New York Times

One person is under arrest following the deaths on Thursday afternoon in Korla, central Xinjiang.

The Guardian

"We haven't heard from Moussavi; we hear he is under arrest".

The New York Times

Cheng Yizhong, the paper's top editor, is under arrest and has been charged with embezzlement.

The New York Times

Jill, when questioned by a detective (John Cho), asks if she is under arrest.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is under arrest" when you want to clearly state that someone has been formally taken into police custody. It is direct and unambiguous.

Common error

While grammatically sound, using "is under arrest" in very informal settings can sound overly formal or dramatic. Consider alternatives like "was caught" or "got busted" for a more casual tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is under arrest" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, indicating the current state of an individual being in legal custody. It describes a legal status imposed by law enforcement. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage in various news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is under arrest" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that someone has been taken into police custody. As Ludwig confirms, it is widely used in news and media to report factual information about legal proceedings. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it's best to avoid overuse in extremely informal contexts where more casual language might be appropriate. Alternatives like "is in custody" or "has been detained" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is in custody

This alternative focuses on the state of being detained by authorities.

has been apprehended

This alternative emphasizes the act of capturing someone by law enforcement.

is detained

This alternative is a more general term for being held by authorities.

is being held

This alternative describes the act of holding someone in custody.

is in detention

Similar to "is in custody", this emphasizes the confinement aspect.

was taken into custody

This emphasizes the action of being taken by the police.

has been arrested

This alternative focuses on the completion of the arrest process.

is facing charges

This alternative highlights the legal accusations against the person.

is accused of

This indicates that someone is suspected of a crime, which often leads to arrest.

is being questioned

This implies a person is being investigated by authorities, potentially leading to arrest.

FAQs

How to use "is under arrest" in a sentence?

You can use "is under arrest" to indicate that someone has been taken into custody by law enforcement, for example: "The suspect "is under arrest" for theft and will be arraigned tomorrow."

What can I say instead of "is under arrest"?

You can use alternatives like "is in custody", "has been apprehended", or "is detained" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "is under arrest" or "was arrested"?

"Is under arrest" describes the current state of being in custody, while "was arrested" refers to the past action of being taken into custody. Both are correct, but they have different meanings.

What's the difference between "is under arrest" and "is being investigated"?

"Is under arrest" means the person is currently in custody. "Is being investigated" means they are suspected of a crime and authorities are looking into it, but they may not be in custody.