were not charged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were not charged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing situations involving fees, accusations, or legal matters where no charges were applied. Example: "The suspects were not charged with any crime after the investigation concluded."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were not charged.

The New Yorker

The men were not charged.

The New York Times

Sackler family members were not charged.

The Guardian

The three officers involved were not charged.

The New York Times

Buckhalter and Crutchfield were not charged and were released Friday.

The New York Times - Sports

The five were not charged with direct involvement in terrorism.

The New York Times

The defendants were not charged with killing anyone themselves.

The New York Times

Two of the exchange's seven specialists were not charged.

The New York Times

The women were not charged in Rilya's disappearance.

The New York Times

AQA: Students were not charged for the November resit.

The Guardian

Others completed their sentences or were not charged with crimes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting legal outcomes, use "were not charged" to clearly indicate that no formal accusations were made, avoiding ambiguity about the status of a case.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "were not charged" implies innocence or acquittal. It simply means that formal charges were not filed, which could be due to insufficient evidence, procedural issues, or other reasons. Be precise in your reporting and avoid overstating the implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not charged" functions as a declarative statement indicating the absence of formal accusations or legal charges against a person or entity. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It commonly appears in legal, news, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

7%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were not charged" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to indicate the absence of formal legal accusations. According to Ludwig AI, it is widely used across various contexts, primarily in news and media, as well as in scientific and general writing. When employing this phrase, it's essential to avoid implying innocence or acquittal, as it only signifies that no official charges were filed. Alternative phrases such as "faced no charges" or "did not face charges" can be used for variety, depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faced no charges

Focuses on the absence of legal accusations.

did not face charges

Emphasizes the lack of accusations presented.

no charges were filed

Specifies the absence of formal accusations.

charges were not brought

Indicates the decision against initiating legal action.

escaped prosecution

Highlights the avoidance of legal proceedings.

were not prosecuted

Focuses on the absence of legal pursuit.

were not indicted

Implies that a grand jury did not formally accuse them.

received no indictment

Highlights the absence of a formal accusation by a grand jury.

were cleared of all charges

Suggests a complete exoneration from any accusations.

were exonerated

Implies a formal declaration of innocence.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone "was not charged"?

It means that authorities did not file formal accusations against the person, regardless of whether an investigation occurred.

Is "were not charged" the same as "were acquitted"?

No, "were not charged" means no formal accusations were made. "Were acquitted" means a trial occurred, and the person was found not guilty.

What are some alternatives to "were not charged"?

You can use alternatives like "faced no charges", "did not face charges", or "escaped prosecution" depending on the context.

What factors might lead to someone not being charged with a crime?

Insufficient evidence, procedural errors, witness unreliability, or decisions by prosecutors can all lead to a suspect not being charged.