a certain ruling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain ruling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific decision or judgment made by a court or authority, without specifying which one. Example: "The lawyer argued that a certain ruling had set a precedent for future cases."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was not so much an uprising for the government as against a certain ruling class".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Anonymous also wrote of Gelou, "a certain Vlach" ruling in Transylvania, a land inhabited by "Vlachs and Slavs".

Wikipedia

If self-help seems to appeal primarily to a certain class the ruling class and its devoted/indentured subjects and that the cost of rehab with a stunning Pacific Ocean view is beyond most of us mere mortals, keep in mind that repression is most effectively and politely administered economically.

Vice

This seemed to strengthen the relevance condition of AFR which states that the rationales for a fair prioritization process must rest on the reasons that stakeholders can agree upon as relevant in the context, and rationales for PS decisions should aim at providing a reasonable explanation as to why certain rulings are made (13,15).

BMC Health Services Research

His action at the European court was the result of certain rulings made by the high court, which has yet to rule on his substantive action.

The Guardian

Much of Mr. Comey's testimony before the committee was encouraging — particularly his unequivocal rejection of waterboarding as a form of torture, his acknowledgment that whistle-blowers are a "critical" part of a functioning democracy, and his openness to the idea that summaries of certain rulings by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court should be declassified.

The New York Times

Still, certain rulings are increasingly raising questions about the fairness of the 700-odd judges, schooled exclusively in the Wahhabist version of Islamic law, who run it.

The Economist

The pace of executions in Texas, he said, "has to do with how many people are in the pipeline when certain rulings come down".

The New York Times

For Mr. Obama, who opposed a mandate in the early stages of his presidential campaign, there was a certain irony in the ruling.

The New York Times - Health

"The appeal could be seeking to overturn a certain facet of the ruling which General Electric doesn't want to see set as a precedent," said Jane Golding, an antitrust lawyer with Taylor Joynson Garrett in Brussels.

The New York Times

On the basis of these elements Zhu et al. express a certain skepticism in definitively ruling out the association between psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and NOD2/CARD15.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a certain ruling" when you want to refer to a specific legal decision or judgment without explicitly naming it. This can be useful when the specific ruling is already understood in the context, or when you want to avoid naming it for strategic reasons.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain ruling" when a more specific description would provide clarity. If the specific ruling is relevant and known, provide the details instead of relying on vague language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain ruling" functions as a noun phrase, where "certain" modifies the noun "ruling". It refers to a specific, but unnamed, decision or judgment. Ludwig AI shows examples where it's used to discuss legal precedents or specific cases.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a certain ruling" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to refer to a specific yet unnamed legal decision. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, including news, legal discussions, and general writing. It's important to consider whether providing the specific details of the ruling would enhance clarity, but the phrase is valuable for referencing a decision without explicitly naming it. The usage patterns, as seen in the examples, indicate that it is most common in news and media, followed by science and wiki contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a specific verdict

Replaces 'ruling' with 'verdict' and 'certain' with 'specific', emphasizing the definiteness of the decision.

a particular judgment

Substitutes 'ruling' with 'judgment' and 'certain' with 'particular', highlighting a specific legal decision.

a given decision

Uses 'given' to imply a pre-existing or known decision, instead of 'certain'.

a notable decree

Replaces 'ruling' with 'decree' and 'certain' with 'notable', focusing on the importance of the decision.

a determined outcome

Focuses on the result of the ruling, using 'outcome' instead of 'ruling' and 'determined' instead of 'certain'.

a designated order

Emphasizes the authoritative nature of the ruling, using 'order' instead of 'ruling' and 'designated' instead of 'certain'.

a prescribed regulation

Focuses on the regulatory aspect of the ruling, using 'regulation' instead of 'ruling' and 'prescribed' instead of 'certain'.

a stipulated resolution

Highlights the conclusive aspect of the ruling, using 'resolution' instead of 'ruling' and 'stipulated' instead of 'certain'.

an established precedent

Emphasizes the impact of the ruling on future cases, using 'precedent' instead of 'ruling' and 'established' instead of 'certain'.

a landmark adjudication

Highlights the significance and impact of the ruling, using 'adjudication' instead of 'ruling' and 'landmark' instead of 'certain'.

FAQs

How can I use "a certain ruling" in a sentence?

You can use "a certain ruling" to refer to a specific legal decision without explicitly naming it. For example: "The lawyer argued that "a certain ruling" had set a precedent for future cases."

What are some alternatives to "a certain ruling"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a specific verdict", "a particular judgment", or "a given decision", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a certain ruling" instead of naming the specific ruling?

It is appropriate to use "a certain ruling" when the specific ruling is already understood in the context, or when you want to avoid naming it for strategic reasons. Otherwise, providing specific details is generally preferred.

Is "a certain ruling" formal or informal language?

"A certain ruling" is considered neutral language, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, consider whether a more specific term would be clearer and more effective for your audience.