behaving illegally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "behaving illegally" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe actions or conduct that violate laws or regulations. Example: "The company was fined for behaving illegally by not adhering to safety standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"We're quicker to prosecute those who denounce the illegal behaviour of fundamentalists … than to prosecute the fundamentalists behaving illegally," she wrote.

The Guardian

"I don't think I thought of myself as behaving illegally.

The New York Times

In a statement released by WikiLeaks, Snowden thanked the Russian authorities and accused the US of behaving illegally.

The Guardian

On Feinstein behaving "illegally," can he not grasp that Congress is a co-equal branch and has a responsibility to inform the American people of its work?

The Washington Post

It's not that anyone is behaving illegally or unconstitutionally, but rather that Congress seems to want to be circumvented and to delegate more power to the executive branch as well as to the Fed, at least temporarily.

The New York Times

A former BBC executive who worked with Savile in BBC Light Entertainment during the time of the allegations said this weekend that he and his colleagues had no indications that the star was behaving illegally.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"If you start catching the bad guys, it generally stops others from trying" to behave illegally.

The New York Times

When your government behaves illegally, is the right response civil disobedience?

The Washington Post

There was no evidence, however, that money changed hands, nor that Mr Gubay had behaved illegally.

The Guardian

If it decided to behave illegally under international rules, then we could take appropriate action, in conjunction with the rest of the world trading community.

The Economist

But in the proposed settlement, the firm does not even have to admit that it behaved illegally.Given its fundamental bias in favour of Microsoft, the settlement's actual provisions are almost secondary.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing corporate or organizational misconduct, use "behaving illegally" to highlight a pattern of unlawful actions rather than a single isolated incident.

Common error

Don't use "behaving illegally" when you mean "acting unethically". Illegal behavior specifically violates laws, while unethical behavior violates moral principles but isn't necessarily against the law.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "behaving illegally" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a noun or part of a noun phrase to describe the action of acting against the law. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "behaving illegally" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe actions that violate the law. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, particularly news reporting and formal discussions. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects a violation of specific laws rather than general ethical concerns. Alternatives like "acting unlawfully" or "committing a crime" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in tone or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acting unlawfully

Uses a synonym for "illegally" and a different verb, resulting in a more formal tone.

breaking the law

Employs a more common and direct expression.

committing a crime

Focuses on the criminal aspect of the behavior.

engaging in illegal conduct

Uses a more formal and legalistic term.

violating the law

Highlights the act of contravening legal regulations.

flouting the law

Suggests an open and defiant disregard for the law.

operating outside the law

Emphasizes activities conducted beyond legal boundaries.

defying regulations

Focuses on challenging or disobeying specific rules or regulations.

transgressing legal boundaries

Uses a more metaphorical and abstract description.

overstepping the bounds of the law

Indicates exceeding permissible legal limits.

FAQs

How can I use "behaving illegally" in a sentence?

You can use "behaving illegally" to describe actions that violate laws or regulations. For example: "The company was fined for behaving illegally by not adhering to safety standards."

What are some alternatives to "behaving illegally"?

You can use alternatives like "acting unlawfully", "committing a crime", or "violating the law" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "behaving illegally" and "acting unethically"?

"Behaving illegally" refers specifically to actions that violate laws, while "acting unethically" refers to actions that violate moral principles, even if those actions are not against the law.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "behaving illegally"?

Use "behaving illegally" when you want to emphasize that specific laws or regulations are being broken. It's suitable in formal reports, news articles, and legal discussions.