Alleged

Proper and correct English is a always a good thing. However, English can also be used in a number of ways.

Take for example, this excerpt from Jonathan Rosenblum's op-ed, "Knowing our Limits" in the Mishpacha magazine:-

A group of five feminists, including novelist Naomi Ragen, has petitioned BaGaTz against the Mehadrin lines maintained by two publicly-subsidized bus companies: Egged and Dan. Petitioner do not demand the immediate cessation of Mehadrin service, but rather that the Court order the Transport Ministry to conduct a study of the necessity of separate seating bus lines and require Mehadrin buses to be clearly labeled.

At the hearing before BaGaTz, a good deal of attention is likely to focus on an incident that took place on the number 2 bus between Har Nof and the Kotel last November 24. In a widely circulated Email, Mrs. Miriam Shear, an Orthodox grandmother from Toronto described an alleged attack on her that day.

Since there has been no court decision in this matter of the attack, it is, truthfully, alleged.

Nevertheless, I do think it would have been better to have written "what Mrs. Shear alleged to have happened...".

What's the difference you ask?

Well, in my phrasing, it is clear that Mrs. Shear is the one doing the alleging and that there was an incident but perhaps not all the details are clear. In Jonathan's version, it is as if the who incident really didn't occur.

The difference is minor but the conclusions could be major.