by the misconduct of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by the misconduct of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has occurred as a result of someone's inappropriate or unethical behavior. Example: "The company faced severe penalties by the misconduct of its employees, which led to a loss of trust among clients."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The next witness said that Skilling had destroyed a good company, the third witness that Enron had been undone by the misconduct of its management; another lashed out at Skilling directly.

The New Yorker

In a press release (and in a post on his blog), Mr. Cuban accused the S.E.C. of being "infected by the misconduct of the staff of its enforcement division," but did not discuss details of the suit.

The New York Times

Mr.be it's not so open-and-shut.

TechCrunch

Goodell believes the hoopla caused by the misconduct of Vick and the others won't weigh on the next four months of football.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"Any meaningful investigation must start by acknowledging the misconduct of the prosecutors there, something it now seems clear the Attorney General is unwilling to do".

Huffington Post

He also implied that the N.B.A. was pressuring federal prosecutors to suppress information — provided by Donaghy — about the misconduct of other referees.

The New York Times - Sports

They also asserted that the district has over-corrected for past situations, such as the misconduct of Berndt, by presuming instructors are guilty and by unfairly dismissing many.

Los Angeles Times

But your husband may not echo the misconduct of others by fobbing off the problem onto the next victim of winds and currents.

The New York Times - Magazine

Within ten days of publication, Miss Missouri turned up dead, reportedly killed by "inflammation of the brain caused by the violent misconduct of Miss Missouri's mother and the publication of an abusive article in The Polyanthos".

Wikipedia

While investors who put money into Mr. Madoff's firm through the feeder funds certainly could pursue common law claims, Mr. Madoff could not have brought an action against the bank because his business was not harmed by the purported misconduct of HSBC.

The New York Times

It took even longer to understand the crisis' inner dynamics, because they were obscured by mythology, by rumors masquerading as facts, and by governmental misconduct of several kinds - the Sacramento terrorism court case being only the most visible example.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by the misconduct of", ensure that you clearly identify the individual or group responsible for the misconduct to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "by the misconduct of" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler phrases like "because of" or "due to" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by the misconduct of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun. It indicates the causal agent behind a particular action or state, specifically attributing it to inappropriate or unethical behavior. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a grammatically sound construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by the misconduct of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to attribute an event or situation to unethical or inappropriate behavior. While considered formally correct, Ludwig signals it is relatively rare in usage. As revealed by Ludwig's analysis, it appears mostly in News & Media contexts and is suitable for professional or formal registers. Alternatives like "due to the wrongdoing of" or "as a result of the misbehavior of" may be more appropriate in less formal settings. When using the phrase, ensure clear identification of the responsible party to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resulting from the misdoing of

A more direct synonym, replacing "misconduct" with the single word "misdoing".

owing to the misbehavior of

Replaces "misconduct" with "misbehavior", a more general term for bad conduct.

due to the malfeasance of

Replaces "misconduct" with a more formal term "malfeasance", indicating a more serious form of wrongdoing.

attributable to the unethical conduct of

Emphasizes "unethical conduct" as the cause, highlighting the moral dimension of the wrongdoing.

as a result of the transgression of

Substitutes "misconduct" with "transgression", implying a violation of laws or moral codes. Changes the preposition.

because of the impropriety of

Replaces "misconduct" with "impropriety", suggesting a lack of appropriateness or ethical behavior.

on account of the illicit actions of

Uses "illicit actions" to specify that the conduct was unlawful or forbidden.

caused by the delinquency of

Uses "delinquency" instead of "misconduct", often implying a neglect of duty or obligation.

through the agency of the misdeeds of

Replaces "misconduct" with "misdeeds", emphasizing the actions themselves as wrongdoings. More literary in tone.

stemming from the lapse of judgment of

Focuses on a "lapse of judgment" as the cause, suggesting a momentary failure in decision-making.

FAQs

What does "by the misconduct of" mean?

The phrase "by the misconduct of" means that something occurred as a direct result of someone's inappropriate, unethical, or illegal behavior.

How can I use "by the misconduct of" in a sentence?

You can use "by the misconduct of" to indicate the cause of a negative outcome. For example, "The company's reputation was damaged by the misconduct of its CEO."

Are there simpler alternatives to "by the misconduct of"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "because of the wrongdoing of", "due to the misbehavior of", or "as a result of the actions of" depending on the specific context. See also "owing to".

What's the difference between "by the misconduct of" and "by the negligence of"?

"By the misconduct of" implies intentional wrongdoing, while "by the negligence of" suggests a failure to exercise reasonable care, even without malicious intent.