be under the control of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be under the control of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something is governed or managed by another entity. Example: "The project will be under the control of the new manager starting next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Ancients personified it, believing it to be under the control of a being who needed to be appeased.

Wikipedia

The bank should be under the control of those women.

Independent

And belief, unlike utterance, should not be under the control of the will, however motivated.

The New Yorker

But, of course, both legislative chambers will be under the control of the Republicans.

The New Yorker

He is reported to be under the control of his former top military commander, Ta Mok.

The New York Times

They will be under the control of Hitler, who will himself be the administrator of Prussia.

The Guardian

Growth and molting are believed to be under the control of hormones.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The reflex is said to be under the control of a medullary centre.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Newspaper readers say a trusted complaints system can't be under the control of the government or the newspaper industry.

The Guardian

"If he left office, things would be under the control of Houthis," who had no experience running large metropolitan areas.

The New Yorker

Most of Afghanistan continues to be under the control of tribal and regional leaders engaged in extortion, corruption and violence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be under the control of", ensure that the entity exercising control and the entity being controlled are clearly identified to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "be under the control of" when the relationship is one of influence rather than direct command. For softer influence, consider phrases like "be influenced by" or "be affected by".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be under the control of" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a relationship of authority or direct management. It specifies that a subject is governed or dictated by another entity, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

41%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be under the control of" is a grammatically correct and widely used prepositional phrase that denotes a direct relationship of authority or governance. According to Ludwig, it's commonly found in News & Media and Science sources, making it suitable for neutral to formal contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the controlling and controlled entities. Remember, it implies a more direct power dynamic than phrases like "be influenced by". Therefore, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly usable and can be found across a variety of contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be subject to the authority of

Replaces "control" with "authority", emphasizing the legitimacy of the power exerted.

be governed by

Focuses on the act of governing or regulating.

be managed by

Highlights the administrative aspect of control.

be supervised by

Emphasizes oversight and direction.

be regulated by

Suggests control through rules and regulations.

be dictated by

Focuses on the power to command or determine actions.

be answerable to

Highlights accountability and responsibility to a higher authority.

be at the mercy of

Indicates a vulnerable position where control is absolute.

be in the hands of

Emphasizes possession and therefore control.

fall under the jurisdiction of

Specifies a legal or official scope of control.

FAQs

How can I use "be under the control of" in a sentence?

Use "be under the control of" to indicate that someone or something is being directly managed, governed, or commanded by another entity. For example, "The project will "be under the control of" the new manager starting next month".

What are some alternatives to "be under the control of"?

You can use alternatives like "be governed by", "be managed by", or "be subject to" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "be under the control of" and "be influenced by"?

"Be under the control of" suggests a direct power dynamic, where one entity dictates the actions of another. "Be influenced by" indicates a softer, less direct impact. The former implies authority, while the latter implies persuasion or effect.

Is it formal to use "be under the control of"?

The phrase "be under the control of" is neutral in formality and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, ensure the rest of your language matches the intended tone of your writing. It can be used in news reporting, scientific writing, or casual conversation.