they were charged

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "they were charged" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone is accused of a crime and faces legal penalties. For example, "The men were charged with attempted burglary after a witness saw them trying to break into a house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were charged with perjury.

The New York Times

They were charged only $10.

The New York Times - Health

They were charged with disorderly conduct.

The New York Times

They were charged today with aggravated robbery.

The New York Times

They were charged $115 million last year.

The New York Times

They were charged with two counts of murder.

The New Yorker

They were charged with disrupting a religious service, a misdemeanor.

The New York Times

They were charged with trespassing on government property, a misdemeanor.

The New Yorker

They were charged with drug and paraphernalia possession.

The New York Times

They were charged with the usual paperwork offenses.

The New York Times

Men would only be granted anonymity "until they were charged".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were charged", clearly specify the charges to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "they were charged", specify "they were charged with fraud and conspiracy".

Common error

Ensure that the pronoun "they" clearly refers to a specific group of individuals. Avoid using "they were charged" if the referent is unclear or ambiguous in the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were charged" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a group of individuals has received a formal accusation. Ludwig shows multiple examples of the use of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were charged" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to denote that a group has been formally accused of a crime. As shown by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, maintaining a neutral register. While alternative phrases exist, such as "charges were filed against them" or "they were indicted for", the core meaning remains consistent. Pay attention to pronoun reference and specificity of charges when using this phrase. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a valid and useful sentence in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

charges were filed against them

This alternative places emphasis on the formal filing of charges, highlighting the official initiation of legal proceedings.

they were prosecuted for

This indicates the legal process has moved to the stage of a trial or legal hearing.

they faced accusations of

This focuses on the accusations themselves, rather than the formal charging process.

they were indicted for

Indictment implies a grand jury has found sufficient evidence to bring charges.

they stood accused of

Similar to "they were accused", this option emphasizes their position as defendants.

they were accused of

This alternative is broader, encompassing any form of accusation, not necessarily legal charges.

they were summonsed for

This means they received an official order to appear in court.

legal action was taken against them

This is a more general statement indicating some form of legal process without specifying the exact charges.

they were held accountable for

Accountability suggests a broader sense of responsibility, which might not always be legally defined.

allegations were made against them

This highlights that it is still just claims that may or may not be accurate.

FAQs

How is "they were charged" used in a sentence?

The phrase "they were charged" indicates that a group of people has been formally accused of a crime. For example, "After the investigation, "they were charged" with conspiracy and fraud".

What's the difference between "they were charged" and "they were accused"?

"They were accused" implies allegations have been made, while ""they were charged"" means formal legal charges have been filed. Accusations may precede charges.

What can I say instead of "they were charged"?

You can use alternatives like "charges were filed against them", "they were indicted for", or "they faced accusations of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "they were charged" in both formal and informal contexts?

Yes, the phrase ""they were charged"" is appropriate for both formal and informal communication, although the surrounding vocabulary and context might differ.