on appeal

USAGE SUMMARY

"on appeal" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a person or organization is appealing a decision or ruling. For example: The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, but the defendant plans to appeal the decision on appeal.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Decision upheld on appeal.

The New Yorker

Freed on appeal!" Crowd roars.

The Economist

The case continued on appeal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Similar stages arise on appeal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The case remains on appeal.

The New Yorker

That case is on appeal.

The New York Times

(x Decision on appeal.

Cornell University

That was reversed on appeal in 2004.

The New York Times

All of that is on appeal.

The New York Times

But his conviction was overturned on appeal.

The Economist

Mr. Hernandez also lost on appeal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "on appeal", ensure clarity about which decision is being appealed and by whom. Providing context helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "on appeal" automatically implies a reversal of the original decision. It simply means the decision is being reviewed, not necessarily overturned.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on appeal" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates the status of a legal case or decision that is currently being reviewed by a higher court. Ludwig shows frequent use in describing legal proceedings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on appeal" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that a legal decision is currently being reviewed by a higher court. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to modify a verb, informing the audience that a decision is not final and is subject to change. It is most frequently used in news and media, followed by academic and wiki contexts. While the phrase itself is generally neutral, it is important to provide context to avoid ambiguity and not to assume that "on appeal" automatically means a reversal of the original decision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under appeal

Replaces 'on' with 'under', slightly altering the perspective to emphasize the state of being currently appealed.

pending appeal

Highlights that the appeal is awaiting a decision.

subject to appeal

Focuses on the potential for appeal rather than the current state.

awaiting appellate decision

Emphasizes the anticipation of a decision from the appellate court.

being appealed

Emphasizes the ongoing action of appealing the decision.

before the appellate court

Indicates the case is currently being considered by the appellate court.

appealed

A shortened, more direct way of stating that an appeal has been filed.

judicial review pending

Uses more formal legal terminology to describe the appeal process.

under review

Indicates a more general reassessment, not necessarily a formal legal challenge.

challenge in progress

Describes the appeal as an ongoing challenge, broadening the scope beyond legal contexts.

FAQs

How is "on appeal" used in a sentence?

The phrase "on appeal" indicates that a previous legal decision is being challenged in a higher court. For instance, "The case is currently "on appeal" before the Supreme Court."

What are some alternatives to "on appeal"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "under appeal", "subject to appeal", or "pending appeal" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "the case is in appeal"?

While "in appeal" might be understood, ""on appeal"" is the more common and grammatically preferred way to express that a case is being appealed.

What happens when a case is "on appeal"?

When a case is ""on appeal"", a higher court reviews the decision of a lower court. The appellate court can affirm, reverse, or modify the original ruling.