make an arrest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make an arrest" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
You would typically use it when referring to law enforcement taking someone into custody. For example: The police were able to quickly make an arrest after receiving reports of suspicious activity.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"They don't make an arrest.

The New York Times

"They will make an arrest".

The New York Times

The teenager even helped make an arrest.

The New York Times

The police sometimes make an arrest.

The New York Times

"Do I want him to make an arrest?

The New York Times

Police went to the woman's house to make an arrest.

The New York Times - Magazine

Lawrence said that he was ready to make an arrest.

The New Yorker

The D.E.A. had no jurisdiction to make an arrest, however.

The New Yorker

"You don't know until they make an arrest," he said.

The New York Times

It was unclear if police managed to make an arrest.

The Guardian

The pressure to make an arrest was intense.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about law enforcement, use "make an arrest" to clearly indicate the act of taking someone into custody. Ensure the context supports the formality of the phrase.

Common error

Do not use similar-sounding phrases like "arrest" alone when the intention is to describe the process of making an arrest. Be explicit with "make an arrest" to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make an arrest" functions as a verbal phrase describing the action of law enforcement taking someone into custody. It indicates a specific legal procedure. Ludwig confirms its correct and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make an arrest" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the action of law enforcement taking someone into custody. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. It's predominantly found in News & Media contexts. While it's a straightforward phrase, it's important to use it accurately to avoid ambiguity, ensuring the context clearly refers to the act of arresting someone. Alternatives include "effect an arrest" and "take into custody", which can be used depending on the desired tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

effect an arrest

Replaces "make" with "effect", offering a more formal tone while maintaining the same core meaning.

place under arrest

Highlights the formal declaration of someone being arrested, emphasizing the legal status change.

carry out an arrest

Substitutes "make" with "carry out", emphasizing the execution of the arrest process.

perform an arrest

Replaces "make" with "perform", highlighting the procedural aspect of the arrest.

execute an arrest warrant

Focuses on the legal authorization and implementation of an arrest based on a warrant.

apprehend a suspect

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise verb-focused expression, centering on the act of capturing a suspect.

take into custody

Shifts the focus to the action of taking someone into legal detention, synonymous with arresting.

bring into custody

Similar to "take into custody", this emphasizes the act of bringing someone under control of law enforcement.

detain a person

Emphasizes the act of holding someone for questioning or further investigation, often leading to an arrest.

enforce an arrest

This alternative places the emphasis on the act of ensuring that the arrest is carried out properly and lawfully.

FAQs

How to use "make an arrest" in a sentence?

Use "make an arrest" to describe the action of law enforcement taking someone into custody. For example, "The police were able to "make an arrest" after a brief chase".

What can I say instead of "make an arrest"?

You can use alternatives like "effect an arrest", "apprehend a suspect", or "take into custody" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "make an arrest" or "do an arrest"?

"Make an arrest" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Do an arrest" is not standard English.

What's the difference between "make an arrest" and "arrest"?

"Make an arrest" is a phrase that describes the complete action of taking someone into custody. "Arrest" can be used as a verb (to arrest someone) or a noun (the arrest itself). Using the phrase emphasizes the action being performed.