was found guilty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was found guilty" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that a person has been determined to be guilty of a crime by a court of law. Example: "After a lengthy trial, the defendant was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to five years in prison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

(He was found guilty).

The New York Times

Rivera was found guilty again.

The New Yorker

Apple was found guilty in July.

The New York Times - Tech

He was found guilty, and fined heavily.

The Economist

So, I was found guilty very quickly.

Independent

Joyce was found guilty and hanged.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The accused was found guilty.

The Guardian - Books

The suspect was found guilty.

The Guardian - Books

The perpetrator was found guilty.

The New York Times

Bettino Craxi was found guilty.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. al-Jailani was found guilty.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using active voice constructions like "the jury found him guilty" for directness and emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "was found guilty" in situations where the actor making the judgment is unclear. This can lead to confusion about who determined the guilt and undermines the strength of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was found guilty" functions as a passive construction indicating that an individual or entity has been legally determined to be responsible for a crime or wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English, predominantly in legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Encyclopedias

9%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was found guilty" is a common and grammatically sound way to report a legal verdict. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in journalistic and legal settings to convey that an individual or entity has been legally determined responsible for a crime. While alternatives like "was convicted" offer similar meanings, "was found guilty" specifically highlights the outcome of a judicial process. To ensure clarity, always specify the charges or crimes involved when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was convicted

A more direct synonym, emphasizing the formal legal declaration of guilt.

was judged guilty

Highlights the act of judgment and the determination of guilt.

was declared guilty

Similar to "was judged guilty", but emphasizes the official declaration.

the court found him guilty

Specifies the actor (the court) that made the determination.

was proven guilty

Emphasizes that the guilt was demonstrated through evidence.

was determined to be guilty

A more verbose alternative, emphasizing the process of determining guilt.

the jury returned a guilty verdict

Highlights the jury's role in reaching the guilty verdict.

was held liable

Indicates legal responsibility, often in civil rather than criminal cases.

culpability was established

A more formal and abstract way of expressing guilt.

guilt was ascertained

Similar to "culpability was established" but slightly less common.

FAQs

What is a good substitute for "was found guilty"?

Alternatives include "was convicted", "was judged guilty", or "was declared guilty", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "was found guilty" or "was convicted"?

Both phrases are generally correct, but "was convicted" is often more direct and emphasizes the legal declaration of guilt. "Was found guilty" can sometimes imply a more investigative or deliberative process.

How do I use "was found guilty" in a sentence?

You can use it to report the outcome of a trial, for example: "After a lengthy trial, the defendant "was found guilty" of fraud." Ensure you specify what the person was found guilty of.

What's the difference between "was found guilty" and "was deemed guilty"?

"Was deemed guilty" suggests a more subjective assessment of guilt, while "was found guilty" typically refers to a formal legal judgment. The former might be used in less formal or legalistic contexts.