be within reasonable limits

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be within reasonable limits" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing constraints or boundaries that are acceptable or not excessive in a given context. Example: "When setting a budget for the project, it's important to ensure that all expenses be within reasonable limits to avoid overspending."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It did not recommend a ban on MPs taking outside employment such as journalism, but said that any such activity should be within "reasonable limits" and "transparent", with information available to voters at election time.

The Guardian

They have to be within reasonable limits.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Simulations results depict that in worst-case channel conditions, the proposed architecture mitigates the impact of tracking errors to be within reasonable limits.

Physical Communication

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A conscious effort is made in the design of HES to reduce the number of load flow executions so that computational requirements are within reasonable limits.

Electric Power Systems Research

The numbers will be high, of course, but even if they're within reasonable limits, no user or investor likes to hear that there are 10, 20 or 100 million fake accounts or likes.

TechCrunch

Having in mind that every second German GP is organized in QCs, the potential for a serious bias is within reasonable limits.

BMC Health Services Research

These restricted time points were chosen such that the standard errors of the survival estimates at these time points in each group were within reasonable limits (e.g. no larger than 5-10%) [ 19].

BMC Cancer

Gun control is being kept within reasonable limits.

The New Yorker

α was constrained to be within "reasonable" psychophysical limits (0.01%–60%).

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

The use of the adjustment algorithm in addition to a search over a coarse grid of candidate points is especially recommended in situations where the computation time has to be kept within reasonable limits.

Computational Statistics & Data Analysis

The number of neighbors must be kept within reasonable limits.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be within reasonable limits", clearly define what constitutes a "reasonable limit" in your specific context to avoid ambiguity. For example, in a project budget, specify the acceptable percentage deviation from the initial estimate.

Common error

Avoid using "be within reasonable limits" without providing any context or criteria for what is considered reasonable. This can lead to misinterpretation and disputes. Instead, quantify the limits whenever possible, or provide specific examples.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be within reasonable limits" typically functions as a qualifier, setting acceptable boundaries or constraints on an action, quantity, or condition. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is correct and usable, ensuring that any activity remains moderate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be within reasonable limits" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something should not exceed acceptable or justifiable boundaries. As Ludwig AI explains, this is a correct and usable English phrase, and it’s commonly applied across diverse fields like science, news media, and general discussions. While the phrase itself is grammatically sound, it is most effective when the context clearly defines what "reasonable limits" entail, thus avoiding ambiguity. Quantifying these limits, when possible, enhances clarity, but the phrase remains valuable when specific numbers are impractical. Alternatives like "be within acceptable bounds" or "stay within permissible parameters" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be within acceptable bounds

Replaces "reasonable limits" with "acceptable bounds", emphasizing the idea of a boundary not being exceeded.

stay within permissible parameters

Uses more formal vocabulary ("permissible", "parameters") to convey the idea of operating within allowed constraints.

remain within justifiable constraints

Emphasizes the idea that the limits are not just reasonable but also defensible or justifiable.

adhere to sensible restrictions

Focuses on adhering to limitations that are practical and well-reasoned.

keep within appropriate levels

Emphasizes maintaining quantities or values within suitable ranges.

fall within tolerable margins

Highlights that the limits define a range of acceptable variation.

exist within acceptable thresholds

Focuses on the idea of a threshold that cannot be exceeded.

be subject to rational limitations

Highlights that limitations imposed should be rational or logical.

comply with moderate boundaries

Stresses the compliance aspect within existing moderate thresholds.

be governed by balanced restraints

Underscores the balanced nature of restrictions that keeps everything within limits.

FAQs

How can I use "be within reasonable limits" in a sentence?

You can use "be within reasonable limits" to suggest something is not excessive or stays within acceptable boundaries. For example: "Ensure that all expenses "be within reasonable limits" to avoid overspending."

What are some alternative phrases to "be within reasonable limits"?

Alternatives include phrases like "be within acceptable bounds", "stay within permissible parameters", or "remain within justifiable constraints", each emphasizing slightly different aspects of staying within a boundary.

What does it mean for something to "be within reasonable limits"?

When something "be within reasonable limits", it means that it is kept at a level that is considered acceptable and not excessive or extreme, making it manageable or tolerable in a given situation.

Is it better to quantify limits rather than saying they should "be within reasonable limits"?

Whenever possible, it is preferable to quantify limits because it provides a clearer and more objective understanding. However, ""be within reasonable limits"" can be useful when specific numbers are not feasible or appropriate, but the context should still provide some guidance.