we were indicted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were indicted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts to indicate that a group of people has been formally charged with a crime by a grand jury. Example: "After a lengthy investigation, we were indicted on multiple counts of fraud."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

And then we were indicted".

The New York Times

"Until we were indicted in Murmansk, everything was going according to plan," Willcox says.

The Guardian

He called out to his wife when asked when he was indicted: "Hey, Molly — we were indicted on your birthday, right?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I hope people understand we're not condoning this behaviour, that we're indicting it," he told Variety last month.

The Guardian - Film

"This film may be misunderstood by some; I hope people understand we're not condoning this behaviour, that we're indicting it," he told Variety in a rare interview.

The Guardian - Film

The film-makers have not yet specifically addressed this complaint, but have previously defended The Wolf of Wall Street as "a cautionary tale", with Leonardo DiCaprio saying: "I hope people understand we're not condoning this behaviour, that we're indicting it … if you sit through the end of the film, you'll realise what we're saying about these people and this world".

The Guardian - Film

He told Variety recently: "This film may be misunderstood by some; I hope people understand we're not condoning this behaviour, that we're indicting it".

BBC

DiCaprio recently told Variety, "This film may be misunderstood by some; I hope people understand we're not condoning this behavior, that we're indicting it.

Huffington Post

"This film may be misunderstood by some; I hope people understand we're not condoning this behavior, that we're indicting it," he told Variety awards editor Tim Gray.

Huffington Post

"This film may be misunderstood by some; I hope people understand we're not condoning this behavior, that we're indicting it.

Huffington Post

officers were indicted by the military.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "we were indicted", ensure the context clearly establishes who "we" refers to and what specific charges are involved. Providing further context enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that being "indicted" automatically equates to guilt. An indictment is merely a formal accusation, and the individuals or entities involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were indicted" functions as a statement indicating that the speaker and others have been formally accused of a crime by a grand jury. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were indicted" is a grammatically sound statement used to convey that a group has been formally accused of a crime by a grand jury. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, remember that being indicted does not equate to guilt, and the accused are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Related phrases include "charges were filed against us" and "we were formally charged".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an indictment was issued against us

This rephrases the sentence to emphasize the indictment itself as the action.

we were formally charged

This emphasizes the official nature of the charges, similar to "indicted".

we were prosecuted

This indicates a later stage in the legal process, after indictment.

charges were filed against us

This alternative focuses on the action of filing charges, rather than the formal indictment process.

we were arraigned

This refers to the initial court appearance after an indictment.

we were brought up on charges

This uses a more colloquial expression for facing legal charges.

we faced accusations

This phrase is less formal and highlights the accusations themselves, rather than the legal process.

we are defendants in the case

This identifies the speaker as the accused within a legal context.

we were accused

This focuses on the act of being accused, omitting the legal formality of an indictment.

we stood accused

This alternative has a more dramatic or literary tone, emphasizing the public nature of the accusation.

FAQs

What does it mean to say "we were indicted"?

Saying "we were indicted" means that a grand jury has formally accused the speaker and others of a crime, initiating legal proceedings. It is not a conviction, but rather the start of the legal process where the accused will have the opportunity to defend themselves.

What's the difference between being "indicted" and being "convicted"?

Being "indicted" is a formal accusation, while being "convicted" means a court has found the accused guilty of the crime. An indictment precedes a trial, where evidence is presented to determine guilt or innocence. You can consider using alternatives like "we were formally charged".

What can I say instead of "we were indicted" to convey a similar meaning?

You can use alternatives such as "charges were filed against us", "we faced accusations", or "we were accused" depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it accurate to say "we were indicted" if the case is still ongoing?

Yes, it is accurate. The phrase "we were indicted" describes a past event—the formal accusation by a grand jury. The ongoing status of the case does not change the fact that the indictment occurred. Note that indictment it's not the end of the legal case, but only the start.