a clear statute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a clear statute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a law or regulation that is easily understood and unambiguous. Example: "The judge ruled in favor of the defendant, citing a clear statute that supported their case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I think the Supreme Court took a fairly clear statute and read it wrong," he said.

The New York Times

Bouie, stemming from a lunch counter "sit-in" at the height of the civil rights movement, held that the South Carolina Supreme Court' s construction of its trespass laws -- criminalizing conduct not covered by the text of an otherwise clear statute -- was "unforeseeable" and thus violated due process when applied retroactively to the petitioners.

The New York Times

Lacking a clear federal statute, the courts have been unable to reach a consensus.

The New York Times - Tech

"Our scoping paper lays a substantial foundation for a clear, modern statute providing a coherent scheme of structured, clearly defined offences that can be readily understood and efficiently prosecuted.

The Guardian

But diGenova argued there is no clear statute or constitutional provision that would prevent the indictment of the president.

The Washington Post

The dissent found the clear statute of limitations in 286 coupled with Petrella overcame what it characterized as weak evidence of a common law rule which allowed latches as a legal defense in patent infringement cases.

Harvard University

It is not certain that an agency regulation determining the pre-emptive effect of any federal statute is entitled to deference, cf. Smiley v. Citibank (South Dakota), N.A., slip op. at 8, but one pertaining to the clear statute at issue here is surely not.

Cornell University

Perhaps the Congress might this time be able to craft the statute with some clarity, but even a clear honest services statute will enable Washington to impose local standards that, in our federal system of divided government, should be left for New Yorkers to decide.

Forbes

You'd think there would be very clear statutes concerning gambling.

The New York Times - Tech

Second-generation textualism argues that lawmaking inevitably involves compromise; that compromise sometimes requires splitting the difference; and that courts risk upsetting a complex bargain among legislative stakeholders if judges rewrite a clear but messy statute to make it more congruent with some asserted background purpose.

Harvard University

By focusing on cases that have neither a clear answer under the statute nor important policy constraints, the book unveils the decision-making process of the Justices themselves – what they do when they are left to their own devices.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "a clear statute" with specific examples of how the statute has been applied or interpreted in past cases. This provides concrete evidence of its clarity and effectiveness.

Common error

Do not assume that a lengthy or detailed statute is necessarily "a clear statute". Clarity refers to the ease of understanding and the absence of ambiguity, not the volume of information. A concise statute can be clearer than a voluminous one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a clear statute" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun "statute". Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in legal and academic contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a clear statute" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a law that is easily understandable and free from ambiguity. While not overly common, it frequently appears in news, academic, and formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Related phrases include "an unambiguous law" and "a straightforward statute". When using the phrase, ensure that the statute truly is easy to understand and avoid mistaking complexity for clarity. The phrase serves to emphasize the understandability and lack of ambiguity in the law, contributing to clearer communication in legal and related contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unambiguous law

Replaces "clear statute" with synonyms emphasizing the lack of ambiguity.

a straightforward statute

Substitutes "clear" with "straightforward" to convey simplicity and ease of understanding.

an easily understood statute

Rephrases to explicitly state that the statute is easy to understand.

a readily comprehensible statute

Uses "readily comprehensible" to highlight the ease of understanding the statute.

a plain and simple statute

Emphasizes the lack of complexity in the statute's language and structure.

an explicit statute

Focuses on the directness and lack of implication required to understand the statute.

a well-defined statute

Highlights the precision and clarity in the statute's definitions and scope.

an unequivocal statute

Stresses the statute's lack of ambiguity or multiple interpretations.

a lucid statute

Employs "lucid" to describe the statute's clarity and transparency.

a transparent statute

Uses "transparent" to suggest openness and ease of access to the statute's meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "a clear statute" in a sentence?

You can use "a clear statute" to describe a law that is easily understood and leaves little room for interpretation. For example: "The judge based his decision on "a clear statute" that explicitly prohibited the action."

What can I say instead of "a clear statute"?

You can use alternatives like "an unambiguous law", "a straightforward statute", or "an easily understood statute" depending on the context.

What makes "a clear statute" different from an ambiguous one?

"A clear statute" is characterized by its straightforward language and lack of vagueness, allowing for easy interpretation. In contrast, an ambiguous statute is open to multiple interpretations, potentially leading to legal disputes and uncertainty.

How does the clarity of a statute impact its enforcement?

A clear statute facilitates easier and more consistent enforcement because its meaning is readily apparent to law enforcement officials, judges, and the public. This reduces the likelihood of arbitrary or inconsistent application of the law.