abide by principles

USAGE SUMMARY

"abide by principles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone who respects and follows principles they believe in. For example, "John always strives to abide by principles of integrity, even when it is difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It must abide by principles, salient among which at this moment is to pass the constitutional amendment to protect marriage.

The New York Times - Magazine

Second, ideal theory assumes reasonably favorable social conditions, wherein citizens and societies are able to abide by principles of political cooperation.

SEP

This decision acted as a commitment to abide by principles it would not have adopted otherwise (e.g. extensive redistribution programs).

Huffington Post

Republicans are not hampered by having to abide by principles, morals, faith, integrity, or even their supposedly beloved Constitution.

Huffington Post

The historian David Knowles described Hilary as "an extremely quick-witted, efficient, self-confident, voluble, somewhat shallow man, fully acquainted with the new canon law but not prepared to abide by principles to the end.

Wikipedia

The draft requires that the collection and storage of human genetic samples should abide by principles of autonomy and informed consent.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Certification means the assessment of an organisation by an accredited third party to show that the applicant abides by principles set out in a specific standard to ensure best practice, conformity with the standard being attested by a certificate.

BMC Cancer

But the broader principle is whether the UK is prepared to abide by the principles of human rights law for all those who risk life and limb in its cause.

The Guardian - Opinion

It requires them to develop a set of principles to guide the conduct of the evaluation and agreeing to abide by these principles, consistent with the approach advocated by the Harvard Negotiation Project.

BMJ Quality and Safety

Our concept had to abide by two principles to have any chance of success.

The Guardian

Lawsin Afghanistan will require all parties to abide by democratic principles, said the justice minister, Abdul Rahim Karimi.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "abide by principles", ensure that the principles are clearly defined and understood by all parties involved. This avoids ambiguity and promotes consistent application.

Common error

Avoid using "abide by principles" when the adherence is partial or inconsistent. Use qualifiers like "attempt to abide by" or "generally abides by" to reflect nuanced compliance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abide by principles" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe an action of adhering to a set of guidelines or beliefs. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "abide by principles" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey adherence to a set of rules or ethical standards. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While relatively rare in occurrence, its primary function is to emphasize commitment and integrity across contexts such as news, science, and academia. Alternatives like "adhere to principles" or "uphold principles" offer subtle variations in meaning, focusing on stricter adherence or active maintenance, respectively. When using this phrase, ensure the principles are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adhere to principles

Replaces "abide by" with "adhere to", emphasizing a stricter, more formal adherence.

uphold principles

Focuses on actively maintaining and defending principles.

act in accordance with principles

More formal and emphasizes the alignment of actions with stated principles.

conform to principles

Highlights compliance and alignment with established principles.

respect principles

Focuses on showing regard for and honoring principles.

follow ethical guidelines

Narrows the scope to ethical principles and guidelines, often in a professional context.

maintain integrity

Shifts focus to the quality of integrity, implying adherence to principles to achieve it.

stay true to one's values

More personal and emphasizes internal values rather than external principles.

honor commitments

Focuses on fulfilling promises and obligations, which may stem from underlying principles.

keep one's word

Highlights the importance of following through with promises.

FAQs

How can I use "abide by principles" in a sentence?

You can use "abide by principles" to describe someone or an organization that follows a specific set of rules or beliefs. For instance, "The company is committed to "abiding by principles" of sustainability".

What does "abide by principles" mean?

"Abide by principles" means to follow, respect, and adhere to a set of moral or ethical guidelines. It implies a commitment to act in accordance with certain beliefs or standards.

What are some alternatives to "abide by principles"?

Alternatives include "adhere to principles", "uphold principles", and "act in accordance with principles". These phrases have similar meanings but may carry slightly different connotations.

Is it better to say "abide by the principles" or "abide by principles"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "abide by the principles" typically refers to a specific, well-defined set of principles, while "abide by principles" refers to general adherence to moral or ethical guidelines.