be enforced to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be enforced to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically intended to convey the idea of being compelled or required to do something, but the correct form would be "be forced to." Example: "Employees must be forced to comply with safety regulations to ensure a safe working environment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

But laws need to be enforced to deter future malfeasance.

The New York Times

What extra policies would have to be enforced to ensure this vision?

The New Yorker

So how will the code be enforced to prevent it being a "toothless exercise"?

The Guardian

Parking in city centres remains far too cheap, and laws should be enforced to curb a habit of parking on pavements or traffic islands.

The Economist

The judge wrote that the law "cannot be enforced to the extent that it purports to restrict the transfer or use of prescriber-identifiable data".

The New York Times

Drafters of constitutions elsewhere in the Arab world have performed semantic acrobatics to provide for Islam as a (sometimes "the") source of inspiration, while not insisting that sharia, which is anyway open to interpretation, be enforced to the letter.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

It is the first time that remote monitoring has been enforced to check patient compliance.

The Guardian

That clause has never been enforced to reduce any state's representation.

The New York Times

Height restrictions are enforced to protect mountain views at most subdivisions.

The New York Times

Zero tolerance has been enforced to an at times comical degree.

The Guardian

Two mechanisms are enforced to ensure the serializability.

Data Science and Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "be enforced to" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "be forced to", "be required to", or "must" to maintain clarity and credibility.

Common error

Writers sometimes incorrectly use "enforced" when they mean "forced". "Enforce" relates to implementing rules, while "force" implies compelling action. Instead of "The suspect was enforced to confess", use "The suspect was forced to confess".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be enforced to" attempts to create a passive construction indicating obligation or compulsion. Ludwig AI marks this as incorrect, advising against its use in formal writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be enforced to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Ludwig AI suggests it's not correct, recommending alternatives like "be forced to", "be required to", or using modal verbs like "must". While the phrase appears across various sources, its usage doesn't align with established grammatical norms. When aiming to express obligation or necessity, opting for these grammatically sound alternatives will enhance clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be compelled to

Replaces "enforced" with "compelled", directly implying a requirement or obligation.

be required to

Uses "required" to indicate a necessary action or condition.

be obliged to

Similar to "compelled", suggesting a legal or moral necessity.

be forced to

Indicates that something is happening against someone's will.

must

A modal verb expressing obligation or necessity.

have to

Expresses obligation or necessity in a more colloquial way.

need to

Indicates necessity or requirement.

be bound to

Suggests a legal or contractual obligation.

be made to

Implies external pressure or coercion.

be under an obligation to

Formal way to express a duty or requirement.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something must be done?

Instead of using the incorrect phrase "be enforced to", use phrases like "be required to", "be compelled to", or simply "must" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "enforce" and "force"?

"Enforce" means to compel compliance with a law or rule. "Force" means to make someone do something against their will. The phrase "be enforced to" is grammatically incorrect; a correct alternative is "be forced to".

How can I rephrase a sentence that uses "be enforced to"?

Replace "be enforced to" with more grammatically sound alternatives such as "be required to", "be obliged to", or "must". For instance, instead of "Regulations must be enforced to work", say "Regulations must work".

Is "be enforced to" grammatically correct?

No, "be enforced to" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Better alternatives include "be forced to", "be required to", or "must".