was arraigned on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was arraigned on" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that someone has been formally charged with a crime and brought before a court. Example: "The defendant was arraigned on charges of theft and assault."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yesterday, Mr. Price was arraigned on six counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

The New York Times

In January, Marseglia was arraigned on charges relating to another olive-oil crime, this one involving the United States.

The New Yorker

He was arraigned on Thursday.

The New York Times

Yesterday, he was arraigned on kidnapping charges.

The New York Times

Mr. Nunez was arraigned on Tuesday and remanded to jail.

The New York Times

Mr. Laudor was arraigned on that assault charge on Thursday.

The New York Times

Judge Peck was arraigned on Sunday and released without bail.

The New York Times

He was arraigned on Thursday in Staten Island Criminal Court.

The New York Times

He was arraigned on the morning of the accident.

The New York Times

He was arraigned on charges of attempted air piracy.

The New York Times

Detective Clifton was arraigned on seven felony and misdemeanor counts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly defines what the individual "was arraigned on", specifying the charges or accusations brought against them.

Common error

Avoid using "was arraigned on" interchangeably with "was convicted of". Arraignment is the initial stage where charges are read; conviction is the outcome after a trial or plea.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was arraigned on" functions as a passive verb phrase in legal contexts, indicating that someone has undergone the formal process of being charged in court. Ludwig examples confirm its use in reporting legal proceedings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

10%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was arraigned on" is a common and grammatically correct term primarily used in legal and news contexts. It indicates that a person has been formally charged and brought before a court to hear the accusations. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-established in reporting legal proceedings. While alternatives like "faced charges of" exist, "was arraigned on" specifically denotes the court appearance where charges are read. Using this phrase accurately helps to convey precise information about the legal process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faced charges of

Focuses on the charges themselves rather than the formal court appearance.

was charged with

A more direct way of stating the legal accusations against someone.

was indicted for

Indicates a formal accusation by a grand jury.

was formally accused of

Stresses the formal nature of the accusation.

appeared in court on

Emphasizes the court appearance without specifically mentioning the arraignment.

was presented with charges of

Focuses on the presentation of the charges.

had charges filed against

Highlights that the charges were initiated by someone else.

was brought before a court on

Highlights the act of being presented to the judicial system.

was processed on charges of

Emphasizes the administrative aspect of the charges.

stood trial for

Indicates a later stage in the legal process, after arraignment.

FAQs

What does it mean to be arraigned on charges?

To be arraigned on charges means that a person has been formally called before a court to hear and answer the charges brought against them. It's a preliminary step in the criminal justice process.

What happens after someone "was arraigned on" charges?

After someone "was arraigned on" charges, they typically enter a plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest). The case then proceeds to further stages, such as pre-trial hearings, negotiations, or a trial.

Is there a difference between "was charged with" and "was arraigned on"?

"Was charged with" indicates that formal charges have been filed, while "was arraigned on" signifies that the charges have been formally presented to the defendant in court. The arraignment is a specific court event.

What are some alternatives to saying "was arraigned on"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "faced charges of", "was formally accused of", or "appeared in court on".