it was indicted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was indicted" is not correct in standard English.
The correct term is "it was indicted" when referring to someone being formally accused of a crime by a grand jury. Example: "After a lengthy investigation, it was indicted that the suspect had committed fraud."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

More recently, Arthur Andersen went under after it was indicted on criminal charges relating to its accounting at Enron.

The New Yorker

The firm shed thousands of employees and lost clients after it was indicted in March for destroying documents related to its work for Enron.

The New York Times

Arthur Andersen wasn't a bank, yet it collapsed in 2002 after it was indicted.

The New York Times

And so yesterday it was indicted in what the firm said was "a gross abuse of government power".

The New York Times

As matters grew more serious for the firm -- and after it was indicted for obstruction of justice -- the floodgates opened.

The New York Times

Enron's accounting firm, Arthur Andersen, went out of businesses after it was indicted in 2002, taking 28,000 jobs with it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

On Saturday, the North said it was indicting him on charges that he tried to overthrow Pyongyang's government.

The New York Times

The North said Saturday that it was indicting Mr. Bae on charges that he tried to overthrow the government, a crime that called for a punishment as severe as the death penalty.

The New York Times

The soccer world has been in disarray since the Justice Department announced last week that it was indicting several top FIFA executives, including Warner, on corruption charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.

Huffington Post

At the time, it was feared that UBS would not survive as a business if it were indicted in the United States, and that its failure could have undermined Switzerland's economy.

The New York Times

Indeed, one of the arguments that Andersen put to the Department of Justice is that its ability to make such payments would be severely impaired if it were indicted.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was indicted" when you want to emphasize that a formal accusation has been made by a grand jury, which is a crucial step in the legal process.

Common error

Avoid using "it was indicted" when you mean "it was convicted". Indictment is merely the formal accusation, not the final judgment of guilt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was indicted" functions as a passive construction indicating a formal accusation of a crime. As Ludwig shows, this phrase is often found in legal and news contexts to report on the initiation of legal proceedings.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was indicted" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a formal accusation by a grand jury. Ludwig highlights its common usage in news and formal contexts for reporting on legal proceedings. While grammatically sound, it's crucial to differentiate it from "it was convicted", which implies a finding of guilt. Related phrases include "charges were filed against it" and "it was formally charged". When writing, remember that indictment is just the start of a legal process, not the conclusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an indictment was issued against it

This alternative emphasizes the indictment document itself.

it was formally charged

This alternative emphasizes the official nature of the accusation.

it was formally accused of

A more verbose alternative of "it was accused", stressing the formality of the accusation

charges were filed against it

This alternative focuses on the act of formally presenting the charges.

it was accused

This alternative is a more direct and general way of saying someone is suspected of a crime.

it faced charges

This alternative highlights the legal challenges faced as a result of the accusation.

it was prosecuted

This suggests that legal proceedings have begun.

it was arraigned

This refers to the specific court appearance where charges are formally read.

legal proceedings were initiated against it

This emphasizes the beginning of the legal process.

it was booked

This is a more informal term referring to the process of recording the arrest.

FAQs

What does "it was indicted" mean?

The phrase "it was indicted" means that a grand jury has formally accused someone or something of a crime, based on presented evidence. This is not a finding of guilt, but rather the first step in criminal proceedings.

How is "it was indicted" different from "it was convicted"?

"It was indicted" means a formal accusation has been made, while "it was convicted" means a court has found the accused guilty. One precedes a trial, the other follows it.

What are some alternatives to saying "it was indicted"?

You could use phrases like "charges were filed against it", "it was formally charged", or "an indictment was issued against it" to convey a similar meaning.

Can a company be indicted?

Yes, a company can be indicted, as seen in the example of Arthur Andersen, which "it was indicted" in connection with the Enron scandal. This can lead to severe consequences for the company, potentially including its collapse.