arbitrary requirements

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "arbitrary requirements" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe rules or conditions that seem random or not based on any logical reasoning. Example: "The project was delayed due to the arbitrary requirements set by the client, which made it difficult to proceed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

But in recent years conditionality had evolved into an ever more complex and demanding set of often arbitrary requirements, involving regular jobcentre appointments and job application targets.

The Guardian

In the case before us, we conclude that these more or less arbitrary requirements should not bar Gammon's claim for compensation for severe emotional distress.

Harvard University

The commission president can thus combine the roles of a visionary, a deal-maker and a disciplinarian.The difficulty in finding a candidate to take over from Italy's Romano Prodi stems from some onerous and arbitrary requirements.

The Economist

257, on which the plaintiff in error relies, which dealt with statutes attaching unreasonable and arbitrary requirements to the pursuit of the employments or trades of locomotive engineers and barbers.

Cornell University

This is a complex question, especially since the rules and the decisions based on these processes must be defensible (therefore cannot contain arbitrary requirements imposed by a specific database model).

Computers, Environment and Urban Systems

Given p vertices as sources and all vertices as destinations, and also given arbitrary requirements between sources and destinations, we investigated the problem how to construct a spanning tree of G such that the total communication cost from sources to destinations is minimum, where the communication cost from a source to a destination is the path length multiplied by their requirement.

Discrete Applied Mathematics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Mr. Wetjen argued that five banks was an arbitrary requirement, according to the officials briefed on the matter.

The New York Times

It is hard, however, to find a configuration of an SPL that meets an arbitrary requirement set and does not violate any configuration constraints in the SPL.

Journal of Systems and Software

Moreover, they often asked whether their formal analysis was "good enough" or whether they were reading "closely enough": they lacked the ability to evaluate their own formal analysis, since they saw it as an arbitrary requirement.

University of California, Berkeley

And, as is an arbitrary requirement for all arcade style sports games, there are numerous power-ups to use throughout the game: "Add an entourage of lineman to get the sack, freeze an opposing player, turn off your opponent's passing icons, and much more.

TechCrunch

Like most laid-off people, she failed to meet the fiendishly complex and sometimes arbitrary eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing a process or system, use "arbitrary requirements" to effectively convey that the rules seem illogical or unfairly applied.

Common error

Avoid using "arbitrary requirements" when you mean to describe essential standards or guidelines. "Arbitrary requirements" suggests a lack of logical basis, while standards imply established criteria for quality or safety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arbitrary requirements" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'arbitrary' modifies the noun 'requirements'. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across various contexts, indicating its role in describing conditions or rules perceived as lacking logical justification.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "arbitrary requirements" is used to describe rules or conditions that lack a clear or logical basis. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, primarily in news, science, and academic writing. The term conveys a negative sentiment, suggesting unfairness or a lack of justification. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the lack of reason behind the requirement and avoid confusing it with descriptions of essential standards. Consider alternative phrases like ""unreasonable demands"" or ""capricious stipulations"" to fine-tune the message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unreasonable demands

Replaces 'requirements' with 'demands' emphasizing the burdensome aspect, while 'unreasonable' conveys the lack of logic.

capricious stipulations

Substitutes 'arbitrary' with 'capricious' and 'requirements' with 'stipulations', highlighting the unpredictable and conditional nature.

groundless conditions

Replaces 'arbitrary' with 'groundless', focusing on the lack of a factual basis for the conditions.

unjustified prerequisites

Highlights the unfairness of the requirements by using 'unjustified' and replaces 'requirements' with 'prerequisites'.

random regulations

Focuses on the randomness by using 'random' instead of 'arbitrary', while 'regulations' implies a formal set of rules.

irrational provisions

Replaces 'arbitrary' with 'irrational', emphasizing the lack of logical reasoning behind the provisions.

subjective criteria

Highlights the personal bias by using 'subjective' instead of 'arbitrary', and 'criteria' replaces 'requirements'.

discretionary rules

Shifts focus to the discretionary power involved by using 'discretionary' instead of 'arbitrary', with 'rules' as a synonym for 'requirements'.

baseless restrictions

Emphasizes the lack of foundation by using 'baseless', altering 'requirements' to 'restrictions' to convey a limiting effect.

unfounded expectations

Replaces the concept of requirements with 'expectations' and uses 'unfounded' to express the arbitrariness.

FAQs

How can I use "arbitrary requirements" in a sentence?

You can use "arbitrary requirements" to describe rules or conditions that seem random or not based on any logical reasoning. For example: "The project was delayed due to the "arbitrary requirements" set by the client, which made it difficult to proceed."

What's a good alternative to "arbitrary requirements"?

Alternatives include "unreasonable demands", "capricious stipulations", or "groundless conditions" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to describe something as "arbitrary requirements"?

Yes, using the term "arbitrary requirements" generally carries a negative connotation, implying that the requirements are unfair, illogical, or without a sound basis. It suggests a lack of reason or justification behind the stipulations.

What is the difference between "arbitrary requirements" and "strict guidelines"?

"Arbitrary requirements" imply that the conditions are random and without logical basis, while "strict guidelines" suggest that the rules are well-defined and consistently enforced, even if they are demanding.