acting in violation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acting in violation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or formal contexts to describe behavior that goes against rules, laws, or regulations. Example: "The company was found to be acting in violation of environmental regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Section 307(a), 45 U.S.C. 547(a), gives the Attorney General of the United States and employees under labor agreements the power to obtain from a district court equitable relief against either Amtrak or any railroad acting in violation of the Act. 3 Petitioners argue that § 307(a) restricts suits to the Attorney General and to employees.

Cornell University

"They have been acting in violation of the law".

The New York Times

In fact, the company is acting in violation of its mandates and international codes and regulations.

The Guardian - Business

"A state officer acting in violation of federal law loses the cloak of state immunity," Judge Niemeyer said.

The New York Times

As the party acting in violation of the forum-selection clause, J-Crew must bear the burden of showing that public-interest factors overwhelmingly disfavor a transfer.

Harvard University

The government said the protesters were acting "in violation of the law after this afternoon with a plan to break into a number of institutions and government facilities," according to a government statement released by the official news agency Saba.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

They added that in continuing to enrich uranium, despite Western concerns that it is aiming for a bomb, Iran was "acting in flagrant violation of its international obligations".

The New York Times

The government, effectively by its own admission and official policies, is acting in clear violation of the international laws of war.

The Guardian - Opinion

But as long as they aren't acting in concert in violation of the basic agreement, some clubs would do well to heed MacPhail's advice.

The New York Times - Sports

But the US insists there is no legal basis for the Russian move, accusing Moscow of acting unilaterally in violation of its commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty.

BBC

A jury in New York returned the verdict Thursday after a group of American companies accused the Chinese producers of acting in concert to raise prices in violation of United States antitrust laws.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "acting in violation", ensure you clearly specify what rule, law, or regulation is being violated to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase with prepositions other than "of". Saying "acting in violation to" or "acting in violation with" is grammatically incorrect; the correct preposition is "of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acting in violation" functions as a gerund phrase, often serving as part of a predicate describing an entity's behavior. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in legal and regulatory contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

24%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

12%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "acting in violation" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the act of contravening established rules, laws, or regulations. As noted by Ludwig, it is most frequently used in news and media, academic, and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to specify what is being violated and to avoid using incorrect prepositions. Alternatives such as "contravening regulations" or "breaching protocol" may offer more precise language depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contravening regulations

Focuses on the specific act of opposing or going against established regulations.

breaching protocol

Highlights a departure from established procedures or etiquette.

defying the law

Emphasizes a direct and open resistance to legal authority.

disobeying the rules

Implies a failure to adhere to specific guidelines or regulations.

infringing upon statutes

Specifies a transgression against written laws or statutes.

transgressing guidelines

Indicates a crossing of established boundaries or limits.

not complying with

A broader term indicating a failure to meet requirements or standards.

operating outside legal boundaries

Highlights that the behavior is illegal.

acting contrary to

Emphasizes behavior that is in direct opposition or disagreement with something.

flouting the norms

Suggests a disregard for accepted social standards or conventions.

FAQs

How can I use "acting in violation" in a sentence?

You can use "acting in violation" to describe someone or something that is not following a rule, law, or agreement. For example: "The company was accused of "acting in violation" of environmental regulations."

What are some alternatives to "acting in violation"?

Some alternatives include "breaching protocol", "contravening regulations", or "defying the law", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "in violation of" or "in violation to"?

"In violation of" is the correct and standard usage. "In violation to" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "acting in violation" and "non-compliant"?

"Acting in violation" describes the act of breaking a rule or law, while "non-compliant" describes the state of not meeting requirements. "Acting in violation" implies an action, whereas "non-compliant" describes a condition. You may also consider phrases like "not complying with" in certain situations.