being forced to remove

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being forced to remove" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone is compelled to take something away or eliminate it against their will. Example: "After the inspection, the company was being forced to remove the unsafe equipment from the site."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

In "The Brothers Karamazov," when Dmitry Karamazov is arrested, he is humiliated, not by being charged with murder but by being forced to remove his shoes.

The New York Times - Magazine

There has been a crackdown on burgeoning evangelical Protestant churches, with many being forced to remove crosses and ordered to disband.

The Guardian

After all, if you are already being forced to remove your shoes at the airport, and submit your laptop for explosives testing, surely you will not object to having your fingers scanned too?

The Economist

After resting Belle in the exhibition opener as a courtesy before being forced to remove him from the lineup two straight days, Orioles Manager Mike Hargrove is preparing for the worst.

The New York Times - Sports

(1) the iPhone apps must remove access to the DCIM directory (Apple claims this is in violation of the iPhone App Developer Agreement) (2) the developers should not blame (point the finger at) Apple for being forced to remove access to the folder (hence the lack of explanation from Stanza).

TechCrunch

In nearby cities and around the country, other Muslim women have faced circumstances similar to Kazan's, being forced to remove headscarves worn for religious reasons while detained.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

If you're trying something new with makeup, pack some remover just in case you are forced to remove it.

WikiHow

Neither was forced to remove her head scarf.

The New York Times

He is forced to remove all his clothes every night.

The New York Times

This was the second time the Secret Service was forced to remove Trump from the stage.

The Guardian

Officials said businesses will not be forced to remove visitors, but they should use common sense.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs than "remove" (e.g., "expunge", "retract", "eliminate") if the situation warrants a more forceful or precise description.

Common error

Avoid vagueness by specifying who or what is doing the forcing. For example, instead of "The content was being forced to remove", specify "The company was being forced to remove the content by regulators".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being forced to remove" functions as a passive verb phrase. It describes a situation where an entity is compelled by an external force to eliminate or take away something, as illustrated by examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "being forced to remove" describes a passive situation where an entity is compelled to eliminate something. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in news and media. When using the phrase, clarity is key; specify who is doing the forcing to avoid ambiguity. While the phrase itself is neutral, the context often implies external pressure or lack of agency. Alternative phrases like "compelled to eliminate" or "required to withdraw" may be more appropriate depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compelled to eliminate

This alternative emphasizes the mandatory nature of the removal, focusing on the act of elimination.

required to withdraw

This suggests a formal obligation to take something back or retract it.

obligated to extract

This implies a duty to pull something out, often with some difficulty.

necessitated to retract

This indicates that circumstances made the withdrawal unavoidable.

coerced into deleting

This highlights the element of coercion or pressure in the act of removal, specifically digital content.

under duress to erase

This emphasizes that the removal happened under threat or compulsion.

made to discard

This suggests a simple act of getting rid of something, perhaps reluctantly.

ordered to expunge

This conveys the idea of a command to completely erase or eliminate something.

constrained to abolish

This implies a forced termination or cancellation of something, like a practice or system.

pressured to omit

This suggests that someone felt significant pressure to leave something out.

FAQs

What does "being forced to remove" mean?

The phrase "being forced to remove" means someone is compelled or obligated to take something away or eliminate it against their will or preference.

How can I rephrase "being forced to remove" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you could use phrases like "compelled to eliminate" or "required to withdraw", depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "being forced to remove"?

While "being forced to remove" is passive, ensure clarity by specifying who is doing the forcing. If the actor is known, using the active voice (e.g., "regulators forced the company to remove") can be more direct and concise.

What's the difference between "being forced to remove" and "being asked to remove"?

"Being forced to remove" implies a lack of choice and potential negative consequences for non-compliance. "Being asked to remove" suggests a request that can be refused.