moved to trial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "moved to trial" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that a case has progressed to the stage where it will be heard in court. Example: "After months of negotiations, the case was finally moved to trial, allowing both parties to present their arguments before a judge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The judge's ruling on Ms. Gannon's work reflects one of the many battles quietly fought as the case moved to trial.

The New York Times

Civil liberties groups and prominent politicians, including the former vice-president Al Gore, deplored the prosecution as an infringement of Greenpeace's right to free speech, but the case moved to trial regardless.

Independent

The schedule had a chronological structure that followed the sequence of events for a trial: it started by establishing the research question and discussing the writing of the study protocol; moved to trial conduct; and finally went through the publication of the study findings.

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

With the injunctions now refused twice, the case may move to trial.

The New York Times

Undeterred, a group of the plaintiffs, including Fox and PBS, said they intended to move to trial.

The New York Times

Grand juries require prosecutors to prove there was probable cause – that is, more probable than not – that a crime has been committed, before a case moves to trial.

The Guardian - Opinion

Last year, there was a rare case of a district attorney's moving to trial even after the prosecution's own expert found the defendant not responsible.

The New York Times

So now, with the case expected to move to trial soon, the Oneidas have made their strongest statement yet to try to allay those fears, saying they will do their utmost to shield owners of private land.

The New York Times

On Friday it awarded its 2010 prize to Eduardo Mendoza; by Monday the publisher's president had been fined over half a million euros and the case, after several stops and starts over the years, was moving to trial.

The New Yorker

"The law allows a prosecutor the discretion to abandon prosecutions against powerful defendants –- even when judges have found probable cause for the case to move to trial.

Huffington Post

That question must be answered before the discovery period ― when parties in a lawsuit disclose evidence to one another ― can end, so the case can move to trial.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "moved to trial" when you want to clearly indicate that a legal case has progressed to the point where it will be heard in court. It's particularly useful in legal reporting and formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "moved to trial" interchangeably with terms like "scheduled for trial" or "came to trial" if the specific nuance of progression is important. "Moved to trial" emphasizes the act of advancing the case, while other terms might focus on timing or arrival.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moved to trial" functions as a verbal phrase, specifically indicating the progression of a legal case to the trial phase. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its grammatical correctness. The phrase acts as a predicate in sentences describing the status of a case.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "moved to trial" is a grammatically sound phrase that indicates a case has progressed to the trial stage. According to Ludwig, it is correct and commonly used, particularly in news, legal, and science-related contexts. While interchangeable with phrases like "proceeded to trial" or "went to trial", it's essential to be aware of subtle differences in meaning, as it emphasizes the action of advancing the case. Therefore, when describing the status of a legal case, "moved to trial" serves as a clear and appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Proceeded to trial

Indicates the case has advanced to the trial stage; emphasizes the action of proceeding.

Advanced to trial

Similar to "proceeded to trial", highlighting the advancement in the legal process.

Went to trial

A more straightforward way of saying the case reached the trial phase.

Came to trial

Suggests the case has reached the point where a trial is imminent or has begun.

Headed to trial

Indicates the case is on its way to trial; emphasizes direction.

Brought to trial

Emphasizes the action of bringing the case before a court.

Scheduled for trial

Focuses on the fact that a trial date has been set.

Set for trial

Similar to "scheduled for trial", but more concise.

Reaching the trial stage

Describes the process of arriving at the trial stage; less direct.

Going before a court

A broader phrase indicating the case is being presented in court, not necessarily at the trial phase.

FAQs

What does it mean when a case has "moved to trial"?

It means the case has progressed through preliminary stages and is now ready to be heard in court, where evidence and arguments will be presented.

What's the difference between "proceeded to trial" and "moved to trial"?

While similar, "moved to trial" emphasizes the action of advancing a case, whereas "proceeded to trial" focuses on the continuation of the legal process to the trial stage.

Can I use "went to trial" instead of "moved to trial"?

"Moved to trial" is more formal. For informal context, it is more appropriate to use "went to trial".

What happens after a case has "moved to trial"?

After a case has "moved to trial", the trial proceedings begin, including jury selection (if applicable), presentation of evidence, witness testimonies, and legal arguments, culminating in a verdict or judgment.