put on trial

USAGE SUMMARY

The term "put on trial" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a person or people being accused of a crime and brought before a court of law to decide their guilt. Example sentence: He was put on trial for embezzlement and found guilty.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had Hashemi put on trial.

The Guardian

They should be put on trial.

The New Yorker

The report recommended that those leaders be put on trial.

The New York Times

There were curses about his sons, and many calls for him to be put on trial.

The New York Times

Clearly, the Chechen 5 will be put on trial.

Forbes

They'll be put on trial.

Vice

I hope you will be put on trial.

Huffington Post

Washington and his symbiote are put on trial as criminals.

Wikipedia

But in the end, no one was ever put on trial for the deadly AMIA attack.

Huffington Post

No one has yet been charged or put on trial.

Los Angeles Times

Indeed, he was put on trial.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "put on trial", ensure the context clearly indicates a formal legal proceeding. Avoid using it loosely for non-legal situations.

Common error

Avoid using "put on trial" metaphorically to describe situations that aren't formal legal proceedings. Using it to describe a difficult performance review, for example, would be inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put on trial" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is the recipient of the action. Ludwig confirms that this is a standard usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "put on trial" is a common and correct idiomatic expression used to describe the formal legal process of accusing someone of a crime and bringing them before a court. Ludwig confirms its validity and widespread use. It's most frequently found in News & Media, but also appears in Academic and Wiki contexts. Alternative phrases like "stand trial" or "face charges" can be used to convey similar meanings, though "put on trial" specifically emphasizes the process. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly involves a formal legal proceeding and avoid misusing it in non-legal, metaphorical situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stand trial

A more concise and direct way of saying "put on trial".

be prosecuted

Focuses on the act of the prosecution rather than the trial itself.

face charges

Highlights the accusations being made, rather than the trial.

be brought to justice

Emphasizes the legal system's role in addressing wrongdoing.

be indicted

Specifically refers to the formal accusation by a grand jury.

answer to charges

Implies a formal response to accusations in a legal setting.

go before a court

A more general term for appearing in court, not necessarily a trial.

be arraigned

Refers to the initial court appearance where charges are read.

be subject to legal proceedings

A formal and broad term encompassing any legal action.

face a legal challenge

Indicates a broad encounter with the legal system.

FAQs

How is "put on trial" used in a sentence?

The phrase "put on trial" is used to indicate that someone is formally accused of a crime and brought before a court. For instance, "He was put on trial for fraud" means he was accused and a trial was conducted to determine his guilt or innocence.

What does it mean to be "put on trial"?

To be "put on trial" means to be formally accused of a crime or wrongdoing and subjected to a legal process in a court of law to determine guilt or innocence. This involves presenting evidence, questioning witnesses, and receiving a verdict from a judge or jury.

What can I say instead of "put on trial"?

You can use alternatives like "stand trial", "be prosecuted", or "face charges" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "brought to trial" instead of "put on trial"?

While "put on trial" is the more common and idiomatic expression, "brought to trial" is also grammatically correct and conveys a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on personal preference and the specific context, but "put on trial" tends to emphasize the process itself.