they were not charged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were not charged" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to individuals who have not been formally accused or billed for a crime or service. Example: "After the investigation, the authorities concluded that they were not charged with any wrongdoing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

They were not charged.

The New Yorker

Four more shots were fired by another detective and a police officer; they were not charged.

The New York Times

The president, Ettore Gotti Tedesch, and the general director, Paolo Cipriani, were under investigation; they were not charged in the case.

The New York Times

They were indicted in the United States in 1999, and promptly fled to Canada where they were not charged until 2002.

The Economist

What they had not done was send any classified secrets back to Russia, and when they were caught they were not charged with espionage but with conspiring to work as unregistered foreign agents.

The New York Times

Speaking to Fox Sports on Wednesday, Richard Ings said Asada needed to clarify its investigation process, and that Essendon players were not out of the woods simply because they were not charged this time around.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The Competition Commission found they were not charging excessive prices or making excessive profits.

The Economist

His killers openly said they had murdered him but they weren't charged.

The Guardian

They weren't charged with treason (the Russians were technically an ally in the mid-1940's mid-1940'sith actual spying.

The New York Times

While the Frazelles spent $40,000 for medical expenses in Costa Rica, they weren't charged a dime for the flight home.

The New York Times

Thousands of prisoners are in jail – they are not charged with anything.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly indicates who "they" refers to, avoiding ambiguity. For example, "Despite the evidence, the suspects were not charged due to lack of sufficient proof".

Common error

Avoid confusing the passive voice with a lack of action. "They were not charged" means someone actively decided not to bring charges, not that nothing happened. Use the active voice if you want to emphasize who made the decision. For example: "The prosecutor decided they would not be charged."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were not charged" functions as a declarative statement. It indicates that a specific group of individuals (they) did not face formal accusations or legal penalties. Ludwig examples confirm its use in reporting legal or quasi-legal outcomes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were not charged" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the absence of formal accusations or legal penalties against a group of individuals. Ludwig's analysis shows the phrase functions as a declarative statement, providing information about the lack of charges, and is primarily found in news and media sources. Related phrases include charges were not filed against them and "they faced no charges". It's important to use this phrase accurately to avoid confusion, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

charges were not filed against them

Focuses on the action of filing charges, emphasizing it did not occur.

they faced no charges

More concise and direct, indicating a lack of accusations.

no indictment was issued against them

Specifically refers to the legal process of indictment.

they were not indicted

Passive voice construction focusing on the action not taken.

they weren't prosecuted

Focuses on the lack of legal prosecution.

prosecution was not pursued against them

Emphasizes the decision not to proceed with prosecution.

they avoided prosecution

Highlights the outcome of avoiding legal action.

no legal action was taken against them

Broadly states the absence of any legal proceedings.

they were cleared of all accusations

Focuses on being found innocent or free from blame.

all charges against them were dropped

Indicates charges were initially present but later dismissed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they were not charged" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "charges were not filed against them" or "no indictment was issued against them". These options emphasize the legal aspect.

What does it mean when someone says, "they were not charged pending further investigation"?

This means that although there's suspicion or initial evidence, authorities haven't made a final decision. They're postponing the charges until they gather more information.

Is there a difference between saying "they were not charged" and "they were acquitted"?

Yes, "they were not charged" means no formal charges were ever filed. "Acquitted" implies that charges were filed, but the individuals were found not guilty in court.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "they were not charged"?

Use "they were not charged" when discussing legal cases, billing disputes, or any situation where accusations or fees could be applied but haven't been. For example, "Although suspected of the crime, "they were not charged" due to insufficient evidence".