be constructed against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be constructed against" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts discussing the design or building of something that is intended to resist or counteract a specific force or influence. Example: "The dam must be constructed against the strong currents of the river to ensure its stability."

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

To maintain that updating goes by Jeffrey Conditionalization is to mandate invariance for each proposition A. This might seem to be required, as Armendt shows that a Dutch Strategy can be constructed against an agent who has a rule for updating that conflicts with Jeffrey's Rule (Armendt 1980).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This campaign of intimidation has been constructed against al-Jazeera because we attract the most eyeballs in the Arab region.

The Guardian - Opinion

The city is constructed against a sort of horror vacui, forever piling up on itself, but the path down by the river is one lengthy, properly empty space.

The New Yorker

Both the prosperous household and the fantasy world are constructed "against and despite the pitched life of ash pits, cinders, rumbling subterranean horrors and black dust settling everywhere".

The Guardian - Books

Ever since, full 'humanity' is constructed against a background of preconditions (citizenship, class, gender, race, religion, sexuality) which exclude the majority of human beings.

The Guardian - Opinion

If you look at how the case was constructed against Nigel, a lot of the complainants, well, they weren't complainants, they did not regard themselves as victims and they didn't actually want to be in court.

The Guardian

A Dutch book is constructed against the model in an elaboration of an example proposed by Smets and Kennes.

Artificial Intelligence

An analysis is constructed against the backcloth of contemporary social theory with the aim of stimulating debate regarding the ethics and politics of corporate risk positions.

Accounting, Management and Information Technologies

Many accounts of free will are constructed against the backdrop possibility (whether accepted as actual or not) that each stage of the world is determined by what preceded it by impersonal natural law.

SEP

The Scheffé quadratic polynomial regression model was used to perform a quadratic multiple regression fitting of the yield per bag and the growth cycle against the formula ingredients, and a quadratic regression model of the yield and growth cycle was constructed against each ingredient in the mixture scheme.

AMB Express

In 1930 the Bengal Street block was also reduced in height by 2 storeys and buttresses were constructed against the south wall of Decker Mill.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be constructed against", consider whether a more direct verb like "resist", "withstand", or "counter" would improve clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "be constructed against" when an active voice construction would be more concise and engaging. For example, instead of "the wall was constructed against the wind", consider "the wall resisted the wind".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be constructed against" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something is built or created with the intention of resisting or protecting against a specific force or influence. As Ludwig indicates, simpler and more direct constructions often exist.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be constructed against" is grammatically acceptable, but as Ludwig highlights, it isn't always the best choice. It functions as a passive construction denoting a defensive or resistant purpose. While you can find it in scientific and news contexts, simpler and more direct alternatives like "be built to resist" or "be designed to counter" often provide greater clarity. Consider your audience and the desired level of formality when deciding whether to use "be constructed against", and always prioritize clear and concise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be built to resist

Focuses on the inherent resistance designed into the construction, shifting from a reactive to a proactive stance.

be designed to counter

Emphasizes the planning and purpose behind the construction, specifically to negate something else.

be engineered to withstand

Highlights the technical and precise nature of the construction, with a focus on enduring a specific challenge.

be fashioned as a defense against

Emphasizes the role of something being built as a protective measure.

be created as a barrier to

Suggests the constructed item serves as an impediment, blocking or hindering something.

be structured to oppose

Highlights the deliberate arrangement and organization with the intent to resist something else.

be formed in opposition to

Indicates that the construction is a direct response to something, standing in contrast.

be developed as a safeguard from

Focuses on protection and security as the purpose of the constructed item.

be established to combat

Implies a more active and forceful resistance built into the construction.

be erected to thwart

Emphasizes preventing or frustrating the plans or efforts of something else through construction.

FAQs

What does "be constructed against" mean?

The phrase "be constructed against" means something has been built or designed to resist, counteract, or offer protection from something else. It indicates a defensive or preventative purpose in the construction.

Are there better alternatives to "be constructed against"?

Yes, depending on the context, alternatives like "be built to resist", "be designed to counter", or "be engineered to withstand" might be clearer and more concise.

Is it grammatically incorrect to use "be constructed against"?

No, it's not grammatically incorrect, but it can sound awkward or unnecessarily formal. There are often more direct and impactful ways to express the same idea.

In what situations is "be constructed against" most appropriate?

It might be most appropriate in technical or formal writing where a precise and somewhat detached tone is desired. However, even in those contexts, consider whether a more active voice construction would improve readability.