proceed to prosecution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proceed to prosecution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts when indicating the next step in a legal process after an investigation or preliminary hearing. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, the district attorney decided to proceed to prosecution against the defendant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The CPS agreed that one of those three should proceed to prosecution - a case that was successful.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If the downturn continues, the finger-pointing will eventually proceed to prosecutions, scapegoating, and the tossing a bunch of designated villains in jail.

Huffington Post

The case, he argued, should be considered essentially closed so that it could proceed to the prosecution stage.

The New Yorker

While that was the case, last week Cumbria police said its investigation would now focus on the death of one baby and that other cases would not proceed to a criminal prosecution.

The Guardian

Cumbria police were investigating the deaths of at least eight mothers and babies at the maternity unit, but last week they said their investigation would now focus on the death of one baby and that other cases would not proceed to a criminal prosecution.

The Guardian

Police said other complaints would not proceed to a criminal prosecution.

BBC

"In respect of the other complaints we have received in the course of that investigation we have been able to inform those family members that their cases will not proceed to a criminal prosecution".

BBC

Despite Pte Manning's admission of guilt to the leak itself, which ensures a prison term of up to 20 years, the military prosecution appears ready to proceed to trial next week hoping to convict him of further charges, including aiding the enemy.

BBC

The final day's proceedings were taken up by Davy, who produced more prosecution witnesses, and proceeded to pick apart the testimony of those who claimed to have seen Squires in Enfield Wash, in January.

Wikipedia

The DOI protesters received notice at the Tuesday hearing that the U.S. Attorney's office for the District had "declined to proceed with prosecution against you for the the incident that led to your arrest for the offense of unlawful entry".

Huffington Post

The businessman is also seeking consent from the director of public prosecutions to proceed with a prosecution against Ahmad and Ahsan for alleged breaches of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience. While "proceed to prosecution" is common in legal contexts, using simpler alternatives like "move forward with charges" may be more accessible for general audiences.

Common error

Avoid using "proceed to prosecution" in casual conversation or informal writing. It sounds overly formal and may be misinterpreted or sound unnatural. Opt for more straightforward phrases like "take legal action" or "press charges" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proceed to prosecution" functions as a legal term indicating the decision to advance a case from investigation to the formal charging and trial phase. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is commonly used in legal contexts and news reporting about such contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "proceed to prosecution" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, particularly within the legal and news media domains. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase indicates a formal transition from investigation to trial. While the phrase is appropriate for legal and professional settings, it may sound overly formal in casual conversations. Related phrases include "move forward with prosecution" and "initiate prosecution", which can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

move forward with prosecution

Emphasizes advancement and action in the prosecution process.

initiate prosecution

Focuses on the start or commencement of legal proceedings.

commence prosecution

A more formal way to say "start prosecution".

pursue prosecution

Highlights the act of actively following through with the prosecution.

continue with prosecution

Implies that the prosecution is already underway and will persist.

advance to prosecution

Similar to 'move forward', but with a sense of progression.

take to prosecution

Suggests a proactive step to bring the case to court.

escalate to prosecution

Highlights that previous steps didn't result in other solutions, now it is prosecution.

press charges

More informal, focusing on the act of formally accusing someone.

bring to trial

Focuses on the case reaching the trial stage.

FAQs

What does "proceed to prosecution" mean in legal terms?

In legal terms, "proceed to prosecution" means to move forward with the formal legal process of bringing criminal charges against someone and taking the case to court.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "proceed to prosecution"?

It's appropriate to use "proceed to prosecution" in legal documents, news reports about legal cases, or when discussing the stages of a criminal investigation or trial.

What are some alternatives to "proceed to prosecution"?

You can use alternatives like "move forward with prosecution", "initiate prosecution", or "press charges", depending on the context.

What factors might influence a decision to "proceed to prosecution"?

Factors influencing the decision include the strength of the evidence, the severity of the crime, and public interest. Legal authorities must determine if there's a sufficient basis to pursue a case.