- Ever find yourself wondering whether you `stand trial` or `go trial`?
- Are you puzzled by the difference between a `trial period` and a `trial run`?
- Do you struggle to choose the right verb to describe putting a new system `on trial`?
Mastering collocations — words that naturally go together — is a crucial step towards achieving true fluency in English. It’s not just about knowing individual words; it’s about knowing how they interact to create natural, idiomatic phrases that native speakers use every day. For English learners, understanding collocations with words like “TRIAL” can transform your speech and writing from robotic to remarkably natural. Dive into this guide to unlock the power of “TRIAL” collocations!
Essential Collocations using TRIAL as a Noun
As a noun, “TRIAL” is incredibly versatile, appearing in contexts ranging from the legal system to scientific experiments and everyday testing. Understanding these groupings will significantly boost your vocabulary and confidence.
In the Legal and Justice System
Many collocations with “TRIAL” are related to legal proceedings, representing the formal examination of evidence in a court of law.
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Fair trial: A legal proceeding conducted impartially and according to legal principles.
Every citizen deserves the right to a fair trial, regardless of their background.
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Speedy trial: A trial held as quickly as possible, often a legal right to prevent undue delay.
The defense attorney argued strongly for a speedy trial to avoid prolonged stress on the defendant.
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Open trial: A trial that is accessible to the public, not held in secret.
Journalists demanded an open trial, citing the public’s right to information.
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Jury trial: A trial in which a jury, not just a judge, decides the verdict.
He opted for a jury trial, hoping twelve ordinary citizens would understand his predicament.
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Criminal trial: A trial dealing with charges related to breaking the law.
The evidence presented during the criminal trial was overwhelming.
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Civil trial: A trial dealing with disputes between private parties, often over money or property.
The civil trial concerned a property dispute between two neighbors.
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Mock trial: A simulated trial, often used for educational purposes or legal training.
High school students participated in a mock trial competition to learn about the legal system.
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Stand trial / Go on trial: To be subjected to a trial in court.
After months of investigation, the suspect was ordered to stand trial next month.
The company executives will go on trial for fraud charges.
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Face trial: To confront or be subjected to a trial.
He will face trial for tax evasion later this year.
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Await trial: To wait for a trial to begin.
The accused man is currently out on bail, awaiting trial.
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Come to trial: For a case to reach the stage where a trial begins.
It took two years for the complex case to finally come to trial.
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Hold a trial / Conduct a trial: To organize and carry out a trial.
The court decided to hold a trial to determine guilt.
The judge meticulously conducted the trial, ensuring all procedures were followed.
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Preside over a trial: For a judge to be in charge of a trial.
Justice Thompson will preside over the trial of the century.
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Put someone on trial: To accuse someone and begin a legal process against them.
The prosecutor managed to put the notorious criminal on trial.
In Testing, Experimentation, and Practice
Beyond the courtroom, “TRIAL” is frequently used when something is being tested, evaluated, or practiced.
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Trial period: A limited time during which something is tested to determine its suitability or effectiveness.
We’re offering a 30-day trial period for our new software.
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Trial run: A practice session or test performance of something.
The band had a successful trial run of their new setlist before the concert.
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Clinical trial: A research study conducted with human volunteers to evaluate a new medical treatment, drug, or device.
Thousands of patients participated in the final phase of the clinical trial for the new vaccine.
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Field trial: A test of equipment or a method in real-world conditions rather than in a laboratory.
The new farming machinery underwent extensive field trials before mass production.
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Drug trial: A specific type of clinical trial designed to test a new pharmaceutical drug.
The pharmaceutical company announced promising results from their latest drug trial.
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Trial version / Free trial: A preliminary or limited version of a product (often software) available for users to test at no cost.
You can download a trial version of the graphic design software.
Sign up now for a free trial of our premium subscription!
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Trial and error: A method of solving problems by trying several possible solutions and discarding those that fail.
Learning to code often involves a lot of trial and error.
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On trial: Being tested, evaluated, or scrutinized (can also mean being accused in court).
The new marketing strategy is currently on trial in selected regions.
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Under trial: Similar to ‘on trial’, indicating something is undergoing testing or evaluation.
The prototype is still under trial, so no guarantees on its release date.
Common Collocations with TRIAL as a Verb
While less common than its noun form, “TRIAL” can also be used as a verb, particularly in formal or business contexts, to mean “to test” or “to try out” something new.
Testing and Evaluating
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To trial a product/system/method: To test or try out a product, system, or method to see if it works effectively. (More common in British English, but understood globally in business/tech contexts.)
The company plans to trial a new inventory system next quarter.
We will trial different teaching methods to see which is most effective for our students.
They are trialling a new design for the smartphone to gather user feedback.
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Fair trial | Noun Phrase (N) | Impartial legal process |
| Stand trial | Verb Phrase (N) | To be judged in court |
| Trial period | Noun Phrase (N) | Time for testing/evaluation |
| Trial run | Noun Phrase (N) | A practice or test performance |
| Clinical trial | Noun Phrase (N) | Medical research study |
| Trial and error | Noun Phrase (N) | Problem-solving by testing solutions |
| On trial | Prepositional Phrase (N) | Being tested or accused |
| To trial a product | Verb Phrase (V) | To test a product |
| Free trial | Noun Phrase (N) | No-cost test period |
| Hold a trial | Verb Phrase (N) | To conduct a court case |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoiding common errors is key to sounding more natural. Here’s a quick guide to what native speakers say versus what they usually don’t.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I want to do a trial for the new system. | I want to conduct a trial (or trial a new system). |
| The suspect will take trial next month. | The suspect will stand trial (or go on trial) next month. |
| You can make a trial of our service for free. | You can have a free trial of our service (or trial our service for free). |
| We are doing trials on the vaccine. | We are conducting clinical trials on the vaccine. |
| They put him in trial for the crime. | They put him on trial for the crime. |
“After weeks of deliberation, the legal team decided it was time to proceed. The accused would finally stand trial, and the entire city watched with bated breath. The judge announced that it would be an open trial, ensuring transparency. Meanwhile, at InnovateTech, the engineers were busy with their latest gadget. They were keen to trial a new software update, offering it initially as a free trial to a select group of users. They knew that developing groundbreaking technology often required much trial and error, but they were confident their dedicated trial period would yield positive results.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Trial Collocations
What’s the difference between “on trial” and “under trial”?
While often interchangeable, “on trial” is more commonly used in legal contexts (“He is on trial for robbery”) and also for general testing (“The new car model is on trial”). “Under trial” is mostly used for something being tested or evaluated (“The prototype is still under trial”), implying a process of scrutiny. Both can technically refer to a legal process, but “on trial” is the stronger, more idiomatic choice for legal accusation.
Can I use “trial” as a verb in everyday conversation?
Using “trial” as a verb (e.g., “to trial a new system”) is generally more common in formal, business, technical, or scientific contexts, especially in British English. While understood, in casual American English, you might more often hear “to test out” or “to try out.” For example, “We’re going to test out the new software” sounds more casual than “We’re going to trial the new software.”
Are “trial period” and “trial run” interchangeable?
No, they have distinct meanings. A “trial period” refers to a duration of time during which something is tested (e.g., a subscription, an employee’s probation). A “trial run” refers to a single instance of practice or testing a process or performance (e.g., a rehearsal before a show, testing a machine once). You have a “trial period” for a new job, but you do a “trial run” of a marathon course.
What prepositions commonly follow “trial” in different contexts?
The most common prepositions include:
- on trial: “He is on trial for murder.” / “The new strategy is on trial.”
- for trial: “The evidence was sent for trial.” / “She was held for trial.”
- of trial: Less common alone, but in phrases like “a period of trial.”
- awaiting trial: “He is awaiting trial.” (used as a participle)
What is “trial and error”?
“Trial and error” is an idiomatic collocation that describes a problem-solving method where one attempts different solutions or approaches until a successful one is found. It implies learning from mistakes and making adjustments. For example, “Learning a new language often involves a lot of trial and error.”
Is a “mock trial” a real trial?
No, a “mock trial” is not a real, legally binding trial. It’s a simulated court proceeding, often used for educational purposes (like teaching students about the legal system), for legal training, or for preparing attorneys for an actual case. Participants play the roles of lawyers, witnesses, and judges.
This guide is a lifesaver for my academic writing! I always worried about using the wrong verb or preposition with 'trial.' Now I feel much more confident. Could you do similar guides for 'issue' or 'matter' next?
We're so glad we could help boost your confidence in academic writing, Fumiko! That's exactly our goal. And thank you for the excellent suggestions – 'issue' and 'matter' are definitely words with rich collocations that could benefit from a similar guide. We'll add them to our list!
I was confused by 'go to trial' vs 'stand trial'. This article helped a lot, thank you! It seems 'stand trial' is more about the person being judged and 'go to trial' is more about the process commencing?
You've articulated that distinction very well, Marta! 'Stand trial' focuses on the individual's position within the legal process, whereas 'go to trial' indeed emphasizes the start or continuation of the legal proceedings themselves. Both are correct, but carry that slight shift in emphasis.
Even as a native speaker, I learned a thing or two, especially about the subtle differences like 'trial period' for jobs vs 'trial run' for tests. Fantastic explanation!
That's high praise, Chloe! It just goes to show that English has endless nuances, even for native speakers. We're delighted we could offer some fresh insights. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I've heard 'trial and error' used a lot. Does that fall under the 'everyday testing' category? It wasn't specifically mentioned but feels related.
Absolutely, Diego! 'Trial and error' is a classic idiom that perfectly fits the 'everyday testing' category. It describes a problem-solving method where various attempts are made until a successful one is found, learning from mistakes along the way. It's a fantastic example of 'TRIAL' in a non-formal, practical context!
The 'fair trial' part was very interesting. Does the concept of a 'fair trial' also imply a 'speedy trial' in English legal contexts, or are those separate considerations?
Another excellent point, Sophie! While a 'speedy trial' (a trial without undue delay) is often considered an element of a 'fair trial' in many legal systems, they are distinct legal concepts. A trial can be speedy but not fair, or fair but not speedy. However, both are fundamental rights in many jurisdictions.
This is a great start, but I sometimes mix up 'fair trial' and 'just trial.' Is there a difference, or is 'just trial' not a common phrase?
That's a very precise question, Omar! 'Fair trial' is the established and highly idiomatic legal term in English. While a trial should ideally be 'just,' 'just trial' is not a common collocation. 'Fair trial' encompasses the idea of impartiality, due process, and adherence to legal rights, leading to a just outcome.
Thank you for the detailed explanations! I still feel like I need more practice to really embed these collocations. Do you have any exercises or quizzes related to these 'TRIAL' collocations that you could recommend?
That's a great approach, Priya! Active practice is key. While we don't have direct quizzes linked in this article, we encourage you to try writing sentences using each collocation, or even looking for examples in English news articles or books. Also, many online English learning platforms offer collocation exercises. We'll definitely consider adding interactive elements in the future!
In Japanese, we often use one word for 'test' and 'trial,' so distinguishing these collocations in English is really tough. This article helped a lot to differentiate the nuances and appropriate usage. It's a huge step towards sounding more natural.
We understand the challenge, Kenji! Many languages don't make the same subtle distinctions as English, especially with words like 'trial' that span so many contexts. We're delighted to hear this guide is helping you bridge that gap and sound more natural. Keep up the excellent work!
Thank you for this guide! I'm curious about the formality. Are these 'TRIAL' collocations mostly formal, or can they be used in casual conversation too? Specifically, can I say 'give it a trial run' to my friends?
That's a very practical question, Jian! While many legal collocations like 'fair trial' are formal, phrases like 'trial run' or 'trial and error' are perfectly common in casual conversation. Yes, you can absolutely say 'Let's give it a trial run before the main event!' to your friends. Context dictates formality!
This article clarifies so much! I used to struggle with the verbs 'conduct a trial' vs 'hold a trial.' Are both equally common in legal contexts, or is one preferred?
Great observation, Elena! Both 'conduct a trial' and 'hold a trial' are correct and commonly used in legal contexts. 'Conduct' might imply a slightly more active management of the proceedings, while 'hold' can be a bit more general. However, for most purposes, they are interchangeable when discussing the court's action.