break the principle of

USAGE SUMMARY

"Break the principle of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate the disregard or abandonment of a rule, guideline, or doctrine. For example, "The government decided to break the principle of non-intervention and send troops to help end the conflict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It follows that Smoluchowski's trapdoor could not operate as it would break the Principle of Microscopic Reversibility.

Chemical Reviews

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I do not see myself why an emergency brake on these lines means breaking the principle of freedom of movement.

The Guardian

Was she trying to say, he asked Dr. Correoso, that if morphine killed a patient, "you wouldn't mind?" "Then you've already broken the principle of double effect," Dr. Correoso replied.

The New York Times - Health

If you are part of a network and being unfairly excluded because other companies want more control, that's wrong and breaks the principle of the internet which is about opportunity, new ideas and a global concept.

Vice

The above video, created by YouTube user mcwolles, depicts a real-life version of the Dutch artist's 1961 lithograph "Waterfall". Just as in Escher's version, it appears that the water breaks the principle of conservation of energy as it recirculates with water flowing upward and defying gravity.

HuffPost

By setting up a special cancer drugs fund he broke the principles of Nice, providing high-cost drugs regardless of their QALY benefits.

The Guardian - Opinion

He added: "In a small number of cases the association believes the actions may have broken the principles of governance, contravened good employment practices and risk eroding the basic entitlement of children to a rounded education".

BBC

Every shadow science minister accuses every science minister of breaking the principle – irrespective of which parties are in and out of office at any time.

The Guardian

Mr Tsipras may calculate that European creditors will give way in order to avoid a Grexit, which would hurt the euro zone as a whole by breaking the principle that membership of the single currency is irrevocable.

The Economist

Google is lobbying against the extension, calling it "bad law" and arguing that it would break the "founding principle" of the Web's hyperlink-based architecture.

TechCrunch

If monetary policy was used to secure the sovereign's solvency -- clearly breaking of the principle of self-responsibility -- the risk of government's irresponsible behavior would be further exacerbated.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing ethics or regulations, use "break the principle of" to underscore a deviation from established norms or guidelines. For example, "The company chose to break the principle of transparency in its financial reporting."

Common error

Avoid using "break the principle of" when you mean to suggest a flexible interpretation or slight modification of a principle. "Bending the principle of" or "stretching the principle of" is more suitable when the principle is adapted, not entirely disregarded. Therefore, be careful about the context to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "break the principle of" functions as a verb phrase, acting as a predicate in a sentence. It describes an action that contravenes an established rule or guideline. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

7%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "break the principle of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that indicates a violation or disregard of a fundamental rule or guideline. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, highlighting deviations from established norms. Alternative phrases include "violate", "breach", and "contravene the principle of". Use this phrase when you want to underscore a departure from established norms, but ensure you are not merely "bending" the rules, which implies flexibility rather than outright violation. In essence, "break the principle of" serves as a critical tool for analyzing and discussing situations where rules and principles are disregarded.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

violate the principle of

Uses "violate" instead of "break", implying a transgression or infringement of the principle.

breach the principle of

Replaces "break" with "breach", suggesting a failure to uphold or observe the principle.

contravene the principle of

Substitutes "break" with "contravene", indicating a direct opposition or violation of the principle.

infringe the principle of

Employs "infringe" instead of "break", highlighting an encroachment upon the principle.

disregard the principle of

Uses "disregard" to show a lack of attention or respect for the principle.

abandon the principle of

Replaces "break" with "abandon", indicating a complete relinquishment of the principle.

deviate from the principle of

Substitutes "break" with "deviate", suggesting a departure or divergence from the principle.

transgress the principle of

Uses "transgress" to emphasize a violation of the principle, especially in a moral or ethical context.

act contrary to the principle of

Rephrases the idea to focus on acting against the principle, highlighting the opposition.

fail to uphold the principle of

Emphasizes the failure to maintain or support the principle.

FAQs

What is another way to say "break the principle of"?

Alternatives to "break the principle of" include "violate the principle of", "breach the principle of", or "contravene the principle of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How do I use "break the principle of" in a sentence?

You can use "break the principle of" to describe a situation where a rule or guideline is disregarded. For example, "The politician's actions seemed to break the principle of impartiality."

What does it mean to "break the principle of" something?

To "break the principle of" something means to act in a way that goes against a fundamental belief, rule, or guideline associated with that thing. It implies a deviation from established norms or expectations.

Is it better to "bend" or "break the principle of" something?

Whether it's better to "bend" or "break the principle of" something depends on the context. "Bending" suggests a flexible interpretation, while "breaking" implies a complete disregard. If you need to indicate adaptability use "bend"; for outright violation, use "break".