wrongful acts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wrongful acts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts or discussions about unethical behavior or actions that cause harm. Example: "The company was held liable for the wrongful acts of its employees during the incident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Almost without exception, public companies agree to indemnify executives for wrongful acts not committed in bad faith.

The New York Times

"Very often a shareholder does not know of any specific wrongful acts, but sues anyway," he said.

The New York Times

She said Trinity "deeply regrets the wrongful acts" and would not do the same in the future.

The Guardian

The purpose of whistleblowing is to expose secret and wrongful acts by those in power in order to enable reform.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unfortunately, wrongful acts such as authorizing the 2010 Stuxnet attack against Iran have set a bad, and dangerous, precedent in breach of certain principles of international law.

The New York Times

"The hospitals that didn't engage in this illegal activity need to be remunerated for these wrongful acts by Barnabas," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

'Abd al-Jabbar defines a wrongful act as one that deserves blame, and holds that the right and wrong character of acts is known immediately to human reason, independently of revelation.

SEP

The judge said Mr. Hayashi "committed no wrongful act".

The New York Times

Damages, in law, money compensation for loss or injury caused by the wrongful act of another.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(A tort is any wrongful act not involving a breach of contract for which a civil suit can be brought).

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Impeachment focuses not on the nature of the wrongful act itself, but on the effects that the wrongful act has on the public office or on the public trust," Mr. Reich said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or ethical breaches, use "wrongful acts" to precisely denote actions that violate standards of conduct or law. This term clearly conveys the presence of an offense without specifying its exact nature.

Common error

Avoid using "wrongful acts" in casual conversation. This phrase is best suited for formal, legal, or ethical discussions. In everyday scenarios, simpler terms like "mistakes" or "bad actions" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

"Wrongful acts" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing. It precisely identifies actions that breach legal or ethical standards without specifying the precise character of the breach.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wrongful acts" is a formal and legally significant term used to describe actions that violate legal, ethical, or moral standards. As confirmed by Ludwig, its grammatical correctness and suitability for formal contexts make it ideal for legal documents, reports, and professional communications. While prevalent in news, science, and formal business contexts, its use should be avoided in casual settings where simpler alternatives like "mistakes" or "misdeeds" are more appropriate. Remember to precisely denote those actions that breach standards of conduct or law with the use of "wrongful acts".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wrongdoing

A broad term for any action considered morally or legally wrong.

illegal activities

Focuses specifically on actions that are against the law.

unlawful conduct

Highlights the violation of legal standards in someone's behavior.

criminal offenses

Emphasizes the legal aspect of the wrongdoing, referring to actions punishable by law.

misdeeds

A more general term for bad or immoral actions, often implying a breach of trust or ethics.

unethical actions

Highlights actions that violate moral principles or professional codes of conduct.

transgressions

Suggests a violation of rules, laws, or moral boundaries.

improper behavior

Focuses on actions that are inappropriate or unacceptable in a given social or professional context.

malfeasance

Specifically refers to wrongdoing or misconduct, especially by a public official.

illicit deeds

Emphasizes the secret or forbidden nature of the actions.

FAQs

How can I use "wrongful acts" in a sentence?

"Wrongful acts" typically function as the object of a verb, describing actions that are illegal or unethical. For example: "The investigation revealed a series of "illegal activities" that constituted "wrongful acts"."

What's a simpler way to say "wrongful acts"?

Depending on the context, you could use simpler alternatives like "misdeeds", "offenses", or "wrongdoing". Each of these carries a slightly different connotation.

In what situations is it most appropriate to use "wrongful acts"?

The phrase "wrongful acts" is best suited for legal documents, formal reports, or discussions about ethics and accountability. It provides a formal way to refer to actions that violate legal or moral standards.

Are there specific types of actions usually described as "wrongful acts"?

Yes, "wrongful acts" can refer to a wide range of behaviors, including fraud, negligence, discrimination, and other violations of the law or ethical standards. The specific actions depend on the context.