allegation vs accusation

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New2grammar

#514517 Fri, 16 May 08 06:26 PM

A soldier accused of sexually assaulting a minor was released when the girl withdrew her allegation/accusation.

Is there any difference between allegation and accusation? The news article used allegation but I've seen accusation used in similar cases.

Thanks in advance!

New2grammar

Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006

Forum Guru (5,620)

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Feebs11

#514533 Fri, 16 May 08 07:19 PM

To allege that someone has done something is to state that someone has done something illegal or wrong without giving proof

To accuse someone is to say that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal or unkind

So it will depend if the girl offered proof of this assault or not. If she did not, then it is an allegation; if she did, it is an accusation.

Feebs11

Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006

Pre Guru (4,604)

New2grammar

#514537 Fri, 16 May 08 07:29 PM

Based on your definitions, they are different and the distinguishing criteria is the availability of proof.
If so, I believe they should not be used interchangably or there'll be contradiction. In my example,
since it started off saying the man was accused, indicating the presence of proof, toward the end of the sentence, the appropriate word should be accusation, am I right?

New2grammar

Feebs11

#514649 Sat, 17 May 08 02:23 AM

Yes.

Feebs11