she has been charged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she has been charged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts to indicate that someone has been formally accused of a crime. Example: "After a thorough investigation, she has been charged with theft and will appear in court next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She has been charged with murder.

The New York Times - Sports

She has been charged with second-degree murder.

The New York Times

She has been charged with possession of stolen property.

The New York Times

She has been charged as a co-conspirator, and both of them have pleaded not guilty.

The New York Times - Science

She has been charged with tax evasion and pleaded guilty today.

The New Yorker

She has been charged with illegal sale of phone cards, she said, a charge she denied.

The New York Times

She has been charged with terrorism and with supporting the separation of Kosovo from Yugoslavia.

The New York Times

She has been charged with subversion and attempting to overthrow the Mugabe government.

The Washington Post

She has been charged with running over two policemen and a horse.

The New York Times

She has been charged with assault; her case returns to court April 29.

The New York Times - Style

In a four-count indictment, she has been charged with setting the blaze deliberately.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting legal matters, use "she has been charged" to clearly indicate that formal charges have been filed, avoiding ambiguity about the legal status of the individual.

Common error

Avoid using "she has been charged" interchangeably with "she has been convicted". Being charged means formal accusations have been made, while being convicted means guilt has been proven in court.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she has been charged" functions as a passive construction indicating that a woman is the recipient of a legal action. As evidenced by Ludwig's numerous examples, it formally announces the commencement of legal proceedings against an individual.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she has been charged" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that a woman has been formally accused of a crime. According to Ludwig, this phrase is very common, especially in news and media contexts, serving the primary purpose of informing the public about legal proceedings. While grammatically sound, it's important to avoid confusing "charged" with "convicted", as they represent distinct stages in the legal process. Alternative phrases like "she is facing charges" or "she is accused of" can be used depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

charges have been filed against her

Focuses on the action of filing charges, rather than the state of being charged.

she is facing charges

Highlights the ongoing nature of the charges and her current situation.

she stands accused of

Emphasizes the accusation aspect, implying a formal accusation.

she is indicted on

Specifies that an indictment has been issued, a formal legal process.

she is accused of

A more general way of stating that someone is accused of something.

she is under indictment for

Similar to "she is indicted on", but emphasizes the state of being under indictment.

criminal proceedings have been initiated against her

A formal and detailed way of indicating that legal action has begun.

she is being prosecuted for

Highlights the prosecution aspect, indicating an ongoing legal case.

she is the subject of criminal allegations

Focuses on the allegations themselves and her connection to them.

she is in custody on suspicion of

Specifies that she is currently detained and suspected of a crime.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone is described as "she has been charged"?

It means that formal accusations of a crime have been filed against her in a court of law. It doesn't mean she is guilty, only that the legal process has begun.

What can I say instead of "she has been charged"?

You can use alternatives like "she is facing charges", "she stands accused of", or "she is accused of", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "she has been charged" even if she hasn't been convicted?

Yes, it is correct. "She has been charged" refers to the initial accusation, while conviction occurs later if she is found guilty. They are distinct stages in the legal process.

What is the difference between "she has been charged" and "she has been indicted"?

"She has been charged" is a general term for being formally accused of a crime. "She is indicted on" specifically means a grand jury has determined there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial.