to commit homicide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to commit homicide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal, criminal, or moral discussions regarding the act of unlawfully killing another person. Example: "The defendant was charged with the intent to commit homicide after the investigation revealed his involvement in the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Hennessy would be compelled to commit homicide.

Stanford University

After many twists and turns, his obsession with her eventually leads him to commit homicide — more than once.

The Washington Post

But expanding existing age limits to all guns might be more effective, since young people are far more likely to commit homicide than older ones.

The Washington Post

(One study, which looked at nearly thirty years of data, suggested that blacks were nearly eight times as likely as whites to commit homicide, and about six times as likely to be victims of it).

The New Yorker

After Mr. Chen made a daring nighttime escape last month, police officers detained his older brother and his nephew, Chen Kegui, who was charged with intent to commit homicide when he slashed local officials with a kitchen knife, seriously injuring at least one, after the officials broke into the home of his father following his uncle's escape.

The New York Times

Guzmán has been indicted in at least seven U.S. federal district courts in New York, Illinois, Florida, Texas and California on charges of drug trafficking, racketeering, money laundering, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit homicide and homicide.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

He said, for example, that the increased use of guns to commit homicides has reduced physical evidence.

The Washington Post

According to Justice Department data from 1980-2008, "blacks were six times more likely than whites to be homicide victims and seven times more likely than whites to commit homicides".

The Guardian - Opinion

He said that the birth rate fell by 13percentt among teenagers, a group whose children are twice as likely to commit crimes, and that the birth rate fell by 12percentt among black women, a group whose children are nine times more prone to commit homicides, according to police and Centers for Disease Control statistics.

The New York Times - Arts

Polling 450 adolescents across 15 countries, the report discovered that boys are socialized to embody dominance and physical strength, making them more inclined to be violent, suffer from substance abuse, and commit homicide later in life.

Vice

To the Editor: The Supreme Court decision on Monday to prohibit sentences of life without parole for juvenile offenders who did not commit homicide is a welcome recognition of children's capacity for rehabilitation, even after committing horrible crimes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal matters or criminal charges, use "to commit homicide" to maintain a formal and precise tone. It avoids ambiguity and clearly signifies the act of unlawfully killing another person.

Common error

Avoid using "to commit murder" interchangeably with "to commit homicide". Homicide encompasses both murder and manslaughter, while murder specifically implies premeditation. Using "homicide" provides a broader scope that includes unintended or accidental killings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to commit homicide" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically used as a verb complement or to express intention. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and readily applicable in discussions concerning unlawful killings. Examples show its use in legal and criminal contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to commit homicide" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression signifying the act of unlawfully causing another person's death. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in legal, criminal, and moral discussions. While the phrase itself is neutral, it's essential to distinguish it from "to commit murder", as homicide includes both murder and manslaughter. Predominantly found in news and media, academic settings, and wiki sources, "to commit homicide" provides a precise way to describe unlawful killings without implying intent. When writing, ensure you use "to commit homicide" when referring to the broader act of unlawful killing, reserving "to commit murder" for cases involving premeditation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to perpetrate a killing

Replaces "commit homicide" with a more formal and slightly distanced way of describing the act.

to carry out a murder

Focuses specifically on murder, implying premeditation, whereas "homicide" can include manslaughter.

to cause someone's death unlawfully

Emphasizes the illegality of the act, providing a more descriptive alternative.

to take someone's life illegally

Highlights the taking of a life and its unlawful nature, using more common language.

to be responsible for a wrongful death

Shifts the focus to responsibility for the death, implying a legal or moral culpability.

to engage in fatal violence

Focuses on the act of violence that resulted in death, suitable for contexts where the method is important.

to inflict a deadly injury

Highlights the action of causing a fatal injury, irrespective of intent.

to end someone's existence unlawfully

Provides a stark and formal way to describe causing death illegally.

to bring about someone's demise through illegal actions

More verbose and formal, emphasizing the process and illegality involved.

to be the agent of someone's unlawful death

Presents a distanced, legalistic perspective, focusing on the role in causing death.

FAQs

What does "to commit homicide" mean in legal terms?

In legal terms, "to commit homicide" refers to the act of unlawfully killing another human being. It includes various offenses, such as murder and manslaughter, distinguished by factors like intent and premeditation.

Is there a difference between "to commit homicide" and "to commit murder"?

Yes, "to commit homicide" is a broader term that includes all unlawful killings, while "to commit murder" specifically refers to intentional and premeditated killings. Homicide also includes manslaughter, which is unintentional killing.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "to commit homicide"?

Alternatives include "to perpetrate a killing", "to carry out a murder", or "to take someone's life illegally" depending on the specific context and desired tone.

How is "to commit homicide" used in a sentence?

You can use "to commit homicide" in sentences such as: "The suspect was charged with conspiracy to commit homicide" or "The evidence suggests that the accused intended to commit homicide".