Arrested vs Placed them into custody

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Arrested

Top 1,000 (very common)

Placed them into custody

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Placed them into custodyMost common: Arrested
 ArrestedPlaced them into custody
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //əˈrɛstɪd//🇺🇸 //əˈrɛstɪd//🇬🇧 //pleɪst ðɛm ˈɪntuː ˈkʌstəsi//🇺🇸 //pleɪst ðɛm ˈɪntu ˈkʌstədi//
MeaningTaken by the police because of a crime.put them in jail or detention by authority.
ExampleThe suspect was arrested after the police found evidence of the crime.The police placed them into custody after the investigation concluded.
RegisterNeutralFormal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Collocationsarrested for a crime, arrested by police, arrested without a warrant, arrested on suspicion, arrested during a raidplaced them into custody, placed into protective custody, placed into police custody
Antonymsreleased, freed, liberatedreleased them from custody, set them free, discharged them
Common mistakesConfused with 'detained'; 'arrested' implies formal charge., Use of 'arrested' in non-legal contexts is rare., Incorrect verb tense, e.g., saying 'was arresting' instead of 'was arrested'.Confused with 'placed them under arrest' (which is different)., Using in informal contexts, where simpler phrases are better., Mixing up the order of 'placed them' and 'into custody'.
Usage notesUsed in legal contexts; less common in everyday conversation unless discussing crime. Not typically used in a figurative sense.Used in legal contexts when describing the detention of suspects. Not appropriate in casual conversation.

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Arrested
Placed them into custody

Frequently asked questions: Arrested vs Placed them into custody

What's the difference between Arrested and Placed them into custody?

Arrested: Taken by the police because of a crime. Placed them into custody: put them in jail or detention by authority.

Which is more formal: Arrested and Placed them into custody?

Placed them into custody is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Arrested and Placed them into custody?

Arrested is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Arrested: The suspect was arrested after the police found evidence of the crime. Placed them into custody: The police placed them into custody after the investigation concluded.

Can I use Arrested and Placed them into custody interchangeably?

Not always. Arrested and Placed them into custody are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.