primary suspect

USAGE SUMMARY

"primary suspect" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, "The police officer identified the primary suspect in the robbery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He became the primary suspect.

The New Yorker

Keyworth emerged as the primary suspect.

The New Yorker

Critics lambasted her for aligning the government with the primary suspect.

The New Yorker

Knight became a primary suspect in the LAPD's Biggie case, though eventually it was dropped.

The Guardian - Music

Agent Tanella had chased and tackled Mr. Dewgard, the primary suspect of a narcotics investigation.

The New York Times

The Norfolk police said Mr. Robinson was the primary suspect in Sister Fogarty's slaying.

The New York Times

Infection was the primary suspect, so urine and blood were sent.

The New York Times - Magazine

Authorities consider Brenton Harrison Tarrant, an Australian national, the primary suspect.

The Washington Post

The F.D.A. cautions against assuming that a "primary suspect" drug was indeed a cause of death.

The New York Times - Health

Officials said the house fire was deliberately set, casting Mr. Stack as the primary suspect.

The New York Times

"Shortly after the explosions, a soldier was taken into custody as a primary suspect in this event.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or investigative matters, use the phrase "primary suspect" to clearly identify the individual who is the main focus of an investigation. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid phrasing that implies guilt before a suspect has been formally charged and convicted. Using language like "the person who committed the crime" instead of "the "primary suspect"" can lead to legal issues and misrepresent the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primary suspect" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a sentence. It identifies the individual who is the main focus of an investigation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "primary suspect" is a grammatically sound and very common noun phrase used to identify the main focus of an investigation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely used and appropriate in various contexts, especially in news and media. While alternatives like "main suspect" or "key suspect" exist, "primary suspect" is a clear and widely understood term. When using this phrase, avoid implying guilt before a formal charge. Ludwig's examples highlight its role in reporting and legal discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main suspect

Replaces "primary" with "main", indicating the principal person of interest.

key suspect

Substitutes "primary" with "key", emphasizing the importance of the suspect.

leading suspect

Replaces "primary" with "leading", suggesting the suspect is at the forefront of the investigation.

prime suspect

Uses "prime" instead of "primary" to denote the most likely suspect.

chief suspect

Replaces "primary" with "chief", highlighting the suspect's prominent role.

principal suspect

Employs "principal" in place of "primary", indicating the main suspect.

suspected perpetrator

Shifts focus slightly to the action, identifying the suspect as the likely one who committed the act.

person of interest

A more general term indicating someone authorities want to investigate further.

alleged culprit

Uses "alleged" to emphasize that the suspect's guilt has not been proven.

named suspect

Indicates a suspect who has been formally identified.

FAQs

How is "primary suspect" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "primary suspect" is used to identify the main individual law enforcement is focusing on in an investigation. For example, "The police identified him as the "primary suspect" in the robbery."

What are some alternative phrases for "primary suspect"?

You can use alternatives like "main suspect", "key suspect", or "leading suspect" depending on the context.

Is there a legal implication when someone is labeled a "primary suspect"?

Being labeled the "primary suspect" does not equate to guilt. It simply means the individual is the main focus of the investigation. Law enforcement must still gather evidence to formally charge the suspect.

What's the difference between a "primary suspect" and a "person of interest"?

A "primary suspect" is the main focus of an investigation, while a "person of interest" is someone who may have information related to the case but isn't necessarily suspected of wrongdoing.