two counts of

USAGE SUMMARY

"two counts of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to two separate criminal charges that a person is accused of committing. For example: "The defendant was indicted on two counts of manslaughter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Khan was charged with two counts of conspiracy and two counts of providing material support.

The New Yorker

He has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of manslaughter and two counts of arson.

The New York Times

Dr. Alkoc is charged with two counts of rape, two counts of sodomy, two counts of sexual abuse and one count of assault.

The New York Times

The suspects all face two counts of malicious murder, two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Silfa was charged with two counts of conspiracy.

The New York Times

Burress was charged with two counts of criminal weapons possession.

The New York Times - Sports

He was charged with two counts of capital murder.

The New York Times

He was charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter.

The Guardian

They were charged with two counts of murder.

The New Yorker

Kelly, 19, also faces two counts of aggravated assault.

The New York Times - Sports

He subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal trespassing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting legal proceedings, use "two counts of" to clearly and concisely state the number of charges against an individual.

Common error

Avoid using "two counts of" interchangeably with phrases that imply different legal meanings, such as "double jeopardy", which relates to being tried twice for the same crime.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two counts of" functions as a quantifier in legal and formal contexts, specifying the number of individual charges or indictments against a person. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "two counts of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, particularly in news and legal reporting, to specify the number of charges against an individual. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in writing. Related phrases, such as "multiple charges of", can offer alternatives, but it's crucial to maintain precision and avoid confusing legal terminology. As a best practice, use the phrase when accurately describing legal proceedings, while being mindful of the formal tone it conveys. Remember that it must always be "two counts of", never "two count of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

multiple charges of

Broader term referring to more than one charge, not limited to exactly two.

a pair of charges for

Emphasizes the 'pair' aspect, less formal than "two counts of".

double charge of

Highlights the duplication of the charge, implying repetition.

dual indictment for

Specifically refers to a formal accusation on two counts.

two accusations of

Focuses on the act of accusing rather than the formal legal charge.

a couple of charges of

More colloquial way of saying "two charges of".

two instances of

Describes events in general and not necessarily legal context.

duplicate charges of

Highlights the identical nature of the accusations.

binary counts of

More technical, highlighting it refers to two independent counting of the same fact.

a brace of

Archaic usage for a pair of similar things or people, rarely a 'charge'.

FAQs

How is "two counts of" used in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, "two counts of" indicates that someone is being charged with committing the same crime, or different crimes, on two separate occasions or under two different legal statutes. For example, "He was charged with "two counts of fraud"" means he's accused of committing fraud twice.

What's a more informal way to say "two counts of"?

While "two counts of" is already quite neutral, you could use "a couple of charges of" in more casual settings. However, in formal or legal writing, stick to "two counts of" for precision.

Can I use "two counts of" for non-legal contexts?

While technically correct, "two counts of" is strongly associated with legal terminology. Using it in other contexts might sound odd or overly formal. For general situations, phrases like "two instances of" or "two examples of" are usually better choices.

Is it correct to say "two count of" instead of "two counts of"?

No, it is not correct. The phrase is always "two counts of", with the plural "counts". The word "counts" refers to individual charges or indictments, therefore it's treated as a plural noun.