What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sued
Example
The company was sued for breach of contract. [sued: past tense]
Example
She decided to sue her landlord for not fixing the leaky roof. [sue: verb]
prosecuted
Example
The suspect was prosecuted for theft and sentenced to five years in prison. [prosecuted: past tense]
Example
The prosecutor decided to prosecute the case despite the lack of evidence. [prosecute: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sued is more commonly used than prosecuted in everyday language since civil lawsuits are more common than criminal cases. Sued is often used in business, employment, and personal injury contexts, while prosecuted is used in criminal justice contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sued and prosecuted?
Sued is generally associated with a formal tone, especially in legal and business contexts. Prosecuted is also formal but is more commonly used in criminal justice contexts.
