act in relation to

USAGE SUMMARY

"act in relation to" is correct and is used in written English.
It is often used to describe taking action in response to a situation. For example, "The president decided to act in relation to the economic crisis by signing into law a stimulus bill."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

BP is also facing a multi-billion fine under the clean water act in relation to the spill.

The Guardian

Also, occasionally my status as an H.F.B.P. can lead to a balancing act in relation to my work.

The New York Times

Form directs attention to the relationship of "who to whom" and attempts to achieve goals by specifying how the people should act in relation to each other.

Harvard Business Review

Libet, B., Gleason, C. A., Wright, E. W. & Pearl, D. K. Time of conscious intention to act in relation to onset of cerebral activity (readiness-potential).

Nature

Libet, B., Gleason, C. A., Wright, E. W. & Pearl, D. K. Time of conscious intention to act in relation to onset of cerebral activity (readiness-potential): the unconscious initiation of a freely voluntary act.

Nature

"Sometimes governments have to act in relation to the greater good, for the long-term future of our country, for the health of our nation and for future generations.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

On Tuesday he was convicted by a jury at the Old Bailey of two counts of possessing an explosive substance in relation to his activities in Afghanistan and one count of preparing terrorist acts in relation to his plans in Westminster.

The Guardian

This includes learning from the past, to the extent that the past remains part of the present, and to the extent that any building acts in relation to what is around it.

The Guardian - Arts

The UK courts, in January of last year, handed down a judgment which has important implications for the copyright protection afforded database structures and to "look and feel" elements of database application software, and the scope of Section 50D of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (which sets out certain statutory permitted acts in relation to database use).

Computer Law & Security Review

However, if students grasp just how much environments can change due to coevolutionary and ecological processes even on short timescales they are more likely to understand that natural selection acts in relation to an organism's current circumstances.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The environment acts in relation to the mind to form useful knowledge.

Human Ecology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "act in relation to" when you want to emphasize a deliberate action taken specifically because of something else. For example, "The government decided to act in relation to rising unemployment rates by implementing new job creation programs."

Common error

Avoid using "act in relation to" in passive constructions. Instead of saying "Action was taken in relation to the report", prefer the active voice: "The committee acted in relation to the report".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "act in relation to" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb, indicating the reason or context for the action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "act in relation to" is a prepositional phrase used to show that an action is a consequence of or a response to something else. Although grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it has a relatively low frequency of use. It's often found in news, science, and business contexts. For more concise and direct alternatives, consider using phrases like "act concerning" or "act regarding".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

act with regard to

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes consideration or respect for something.

act regarding

This alternative is similar in meaning but slightly less formal than "act in relation to".

act concerning

This alternative is more concise and direct, implying a focus on the subject of the action.

take action on

This alternative emphasizes the initiation of action in response to something.

respond to

This alternative focuses on the reactive aspect of the action, highlighting the response to a stimulus.

react to

Similar to "respond to", but often implies a more immediate or emotional reaction.

operate in connection with

This alternative suggests a functional or operational link between actions and something else.

deal with

This alternative is more general and implies managing or handling something.

address the issue of

This alternative focuses on tackling a specific problem or concern.

behave towards

This alternative focuses more on conduct and manner of acting toward something or someone.

FAQs

How can I use "act in relation to" in a sentence?

Use "act in relation to" when you want to show that an action is a direct response or consequence of something else. For example, "The company had to act in relation to the new regulations."

What are some alternatives to "act in relation to"?

Alternatives include "act concerning", "act regarding", or "take action on" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "act in relation to" or "act with regard to"?

"Act with regard to" is a more formal alternative to "act in relation to", emphasizing consideration and respect. Both are correct, but "act with regard to" might be more suitable in formal or legal contexts.

Can "act in relation to" be used to describe inaction?

While "act in relation to" typically implies taking action, it can also describe a deliberate decision not to act. For example, "The council decided not to act in relation to the proposal at this time", indicating a conscious choice in response to the proposal.