against the pledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "against the pledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is violating or not adhering to a promise or commitment they have made. Example: "By revealing the confidential information, he acted against the pledge he had given to keep it secret."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Vote against the pledge breakers".

The Guardian

That question, of course, only mentioned corporations and the wealthy, which could surely skew the results against the pledge.

The Washington Post

About the same time, JOSEPH PAPP, producer of the New York Shakespeare Festival, will be in Washington testifying against the pledge requirement before the House Subcommittee on Appropriations, which oversees financing for the N.E.A.

The New York Times - Style

But the data were incomplete, used questionable methodology and omitted to mention the most important test of all – how G8 countries were doing against the pledge made at Gleneagles four years ago to double aid by $50bn.

The Guardian

The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll shows just 21percentt of registered voters say they would prefer a presidential candidate who "pledges never to raise taxes,'" while 74percentt prefer "someone who does not make such a pledge". Among Republicans, it's nearly as lopsided against the pledge.

The Washington Post

also declared on Sunday that he agreed with Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga)., who last week came out against the pledge, arguing that it was no longer relevant.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

University of Vermont officials said they would not take any action against the pledges involved.

The New York Times - Style

But the briefing went awry when Darling did not have to hand the details of the benchmarks against which the pledges could be measured.

The Guardian

Michael Long, chairman of the Conservative Party, has said he too will stop his ads provided that Mrs. Clinton signs the pledge against soft money.

The New York Times

When he recently took the pledge against running for President in 1988, all sorts of Republicans expressed their disappointment; Mr. Kennedy, they said, would have been the easiest Democrat to beat.

The New York Times

Not only is Scotland not charging fees for their own students, Alex Salmond attended a ceremony this week in which the pledge against fees was literally inscribed in rock.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "against the pledge", ensure the context clearly establishes what the pledge is and who is acting against it. For example, "The politician's actions were clearly "against the pledge" he made to his constituents".

Common error

Avoid using "against the pledge" when the action is merely unrelated to the pledge, rather than directly contradicting it. The action needs to actively undermine or violate the commitment made.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "against the pledge" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate opposition or non-compliance. Ludwig provides several examples where it describes actions conflicting with a prior commitment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "against the pledge" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate opposition to, or violation of, a previously made promise or commitment. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is generally appropriate for use in a variety of contexts, from news and media to formal business settings. While the phrase isn't exceedingly common, occurring with "Uncommon" frequency, it appears in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times. When using "against the pledge", ensure the context clearly identifies the specific promise and the actions conflicting with it. Alternatives such as "in violation of the pledge" or "contrary to the pledge" can also be considered to enhance clarity or stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in violation of the pledge

Replaces "against" with "in violation of", emphasizing a breach of the commitment.

contrary to the pledge

Uses "contrary to" instead of "against", highlighting the opposition to the promise.

in opposition to the pledge

Replaces "against" with "in opposition to", stressing a stance of resistance.

in defiance of the pledge

Emphasizes a rebellious or disobedient act relative to the pledge.

not adhering to the pledge

Focuses on the lack of compliance or adherence to the promised commitment.

in conflict with the pledge

Highlights the inconsistency or clash with the terms of the pledge.

in contradiction to the pledge

Stresses the direct opposition or inconsistency with the promise.

in contravention of the pledge

Uses a more formal term "contravention" to indicate a violation.

acting in breach of the pledge

Emphasizes the act of breaking or violating the terms of the pledge.

reneging on the pledge

Implies the act of withdrawing or going back on the initial promise.

FAQs

What does it mean to act "against the pledge"?

Acting "against the pledge" means taking actions that contradict or violate a promise or commitment that has been made. It implies a direct opposition to what was initially agreed upon.

How can I use "against the pledge" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone's actions that violate a previously made promise. For example, "His decision to raise taxes was seen as a move "against the pledge" he had made not to do so."

What are some alternatives to saying "against the pledge"?

You can use alternatives like "in violation of the pledge", "contrary to the pledge", or "in opposition to the pledge" depending on the specific context.

Is it always negative to go "against the pledge"?

Generally, going "against the pledge" is seen negatively, as it implies a broken promise. However, in some situations, it might be perceived as necessary or justifiable if circumstances have changed significantly since the pledge was made.