to be charged with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be charged with" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that someone has been formally accused of a crime or offense. Example: "The defendant is to be charged with theft and will appear in court next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

He has yet to be charged with a crime.

The New York Times

He has yet to be charged with any offence.

The Guardian

He is expected to be charged with murder next week.

The New York Times

BatCat has yet to be charged with any felony.

The Guardian - Opinion

They weren't called criminals, because criminals have to be charged with a crime.

The New Yorker

The woman was taken into custody and was expected to be charged with murder.

The New York Times

Mr. Sampson is expected to be charged with obstruction of justice.

The New York Times

The police said the boy was expected to be charged with criminal mischief.

The New York Times

He was even more surprised to be charged with leaving an accident scene.

The New York Times

His mother, Afriyie Gaspard, 29, is to be charged with manslaughter and murder, the police said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The whole run of Blasted seemed to be charged with energy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to be charged with", ensure that the context clearly indicates the specific crime or offense being alleged. For example, "He is to be charged with fraud and embezzlement" provides clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "to be charged with" in situations where active voice would be more direct and impactful. Instead of "The suspect is to be charged with assault by the police", consider "The police will charge the suspect with assault".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be charged with" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone is the recipient of the action of being formally accused of a crime. As Ludwig AI suggests, this construction is common in legal and news contexts. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its use in various scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be charged with" is a very common and grammatically correct passive construction used primarily in legal and news contexts to indicate that someone has been formally accused of a crime. Ludwig AI affirms its proper usage and provides ample examples from authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. While alternatives like ""to face charges of"" or ""to be accused of"" exist, "to be charged with" remains a standard and widely accepted phrase for conveying legal accusations. When writing, it's essential to maintain clarity about the alleged offense and choose active voice when a more direct style is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to face charges of

Emphasizes the formal legal process of facing accusations.

to be accused of

Highlights the act of accusation, potentially before formal charges are filed.

to be indicted for

Specifically refers to the formal indictment process by a grand jury.

to stand trial for

Focuses on the legal process of a trial.

to be prosecuted for

Indicates the action of being pursued legally by a prosecutor.

to answer to the charge of

Implies a formal requirement to respond to an accusation.

to be held accountable for

Broader term, indicating responsibility and potential consequences, not necessarily legal.

to be liable for

Focuses on legal responsibility or obligation.

to be investigated for

Describes the initial phase of inquiry before charges are potentially filed.

to be suspected of

Indicates a preliminary stage where there is suspicion but not necessarily formal accusation.

FAQs

What does "to be charged with" mean in a legal context?

In legal terms, "to be charged with" means that a person has been formally accused of committing a crime and is required to appear in court to answer the charges.

What are some alternatives to "to be charged with"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "to face charges of", "to be accused of", or "to be indicted for".

Is it correct to say "to be charged for" instead of "to be charged with"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "to be charged" is "with". Saying "to be charged for" is grammatically incorrect. You must say "to be charged with" something, or the construction won't make sense.

What is the difference between "to be charged with" and "to be convicted of"?

"To be charged with" means someone is formally accused of a crime, while "to be convicted of" means they have been found guilty of that crime in a court of law.