How to Use "Perpetrating" in a Sentence (With Examples)
How to Use "Perpetrating" in a Sentence
"Perpetrating" means carrying out or committing an act, almost always something harmful, illegal, or morally wrong. It is the present participle of "perpetrate" and appears regularly in legal, journalistic, and academic writing.
Definition
To perpetrate means to carry out or commit a harmful, criminal, or immoral act. The person who does it is the perpetrator.
- perpetrate (verb): to commit or carry out
- perpetrating (present participle): in the act of committing
- perpetrator (noun): the person who commits the act
Example Sentences
Here are several ways to use "perpetrating" correctly:
- The suspect was caught perpetrating the fraud on hidden camera.
- Officials accused the group of perpetrating cyberattacks against hospitals.
- She wrote extensively about those perpetrating violence against civilians.
- The investigation revealed who had been perpetrating the identity theft scheme.
- Perpetrating such a large-scale hoax required months of planning.
What Kind of Acts Get "Perpetrated"?
Perpetrate almost exclusively applies to negative actions. You would not say someone "perpetrated a kindness." Common collocations include:
- perpetrating a crime
- perpetrating fraud
- perpetrating violence
- perpetrating an attack
- perpetrating a hoax
If the action is positive or neutral, use a different verb like "performing," "carrying out," or "executing."
Perpetrating vs. Perpetuating
These two words sound similar but mean entirely different things.
Perpetrating = committing a specific act Perpetuating = causing something to continue indefinitely
- He was perpetrating tax fraud. (He was committing fraud.)
- He was perpetuating a harmful myth. (He was keeping a myth alive.)
Mixing these up is a common error. If you mean someone is keeping something going, you want "perpetuating." If you mean someone is committing an act, you want "perpetrating."
Usage Notes
"Perpetrating" appears most often in formal contexts. In casual conversation, people are more likely to say "committing" or simply describe the act directly. In writing, "perpetrating" adds weight and formality that suits crime reporting, legal documents, and investigative journalism.
The word carries a strong negative connotation. Using it signals that the act being described is serious and blameworthy. This makes it useful for emphasizing the severity of wrongdoing without needing additional adjectives.
Practice
Try writing three sentences using "perpetrating" to describe different types of wrongdoing. Then write three using "perpetuating" to describe something being kept alive over time. This exercise will help you keep the two words separate in your mind.
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