by what principles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by what principles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when inquiring about the foundational beliefs or rules that guide a decision or action. Example: "By what principles do you determine the ethical implications of your research?"

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Guided by what principles?

Yale University

Children are extremely good at discerning what their parents, teachers and other significant adults actually believe, and by what principles they live.

The Economist

However, rather than trying to cover all the themes in Marcus in this light in addition to the topics discussed below, he talks about time, fate, death, the cycles of change in the cosmos—I focus on one basic question for Marcus' project of living Stoically: by what principles does a Stoic act?

SEP

By what principles?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

We have a rhetorical habit of locating the American spirit in the heartland, when the outer extremities may be more revealing: the country's attitude about whom we let into our borders and by what principle we might welcome them has always defined who we are.

The New Yorker

The theories are too rich, and we don't yet know by what principle the particular view can be stopped from generating what we consider to be implausible accounts of the problem cases as well.

SEP

Hill writes, "Facebook gets people to hand over information about themselves all the time; by what principle would it be unreasonable to sometimes hand some of that information back?" A spokesperson later told Hill that at least 100 signals go into friend recommendations, a handful of which were actually known to her.

HuffPost

Skeptics have challenged the adequacy or reliability of these claims by asking what principles they are based upon or what they actually establish.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This question "is best answered by considering what principles licensing others to take our lives could be reasonably rejected" (Scanlon 1998, p. 85).

SEP

Rawls argues that the fairness of the basic structure of society may be assessed by asking what principles representatives of citizens (parties) would choose to determine the distribution of primary goods in society if they were behind a "veil of ignorance" (Rawls 1971, 12).

SEP

The district court did not state in its findings what principles held by petitioner or by the Communist Party were opposed to the Constitution and indicated lack of attachment.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by what principles", ensure the context clearly indicates what domain the principles belong to (e.g. ethical, legal, moral).

Common error

Avoid using "by what principles" in contexts where the principles are too abstract or ill-defined. Instead, strive for clarity and specificity in identifying the relevant guiding principles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by what principles" functions as an interrogative prepositional phrase. It is used to inquire about the fundamental guidelines, rules, or beliefs that underpin a particular action, decision, or system. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Academia

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "by what principles" is a grammatically correct and usable interrogative phrase employed to inquire about the foundational rules, beliefs, or guidelines that inform a decision or action. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage. While relatively rare, this phrase finds its niche in academic, news media, and encyclopedia contexts. It serves the communicative purpose of eliciting clarification and understanding the rationale behind specific choices or systems. When using "by what principles", ensure clarity about the domain of principles and avoid overly abstract contexts. Alternatives such as "on what basis" or "according to what guidelines" offer nuanced options for expressing similar inquiries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on what basis

This alternative focuses on the justification or foundation for a decision, rather than the guiding rules.

according to what guidelines

This phrase is more specific, focusing on established guidelines rather than general principles.

by which standards

This alternative emphasizes the benchmarks or criteria used for evaluation.

under what criteria

Similar to 'by which standards', this highlights the specific criteria used in decision-making.

following what tenets

This option suggests a stricter adherence to established doctrines or beliefs.

guided by what values

This shifts the focus to the underlying values that inform actions.

based on what reasoning

This alternative emphasizes the logical or rational basis for a decision.

informed by what beliefs

This highlights the role of beliefs in shaping actions.

by virtue of what norms

This phrase emphasizes adherence to established social or ethical norms.

on what grounds

Focuses on the justification or reasons behind a particular action or decision.

FAQs

How can I use "by what principles" in a sentence?

Use "by what principles" to inquire about the fundamental rules or beliefs guiding a decision or action. For example: "By what principles do you evaluate the success of this program?"

What phrases are similar to "by what principles"?

Similar phrases include "on what basis", "according to what guidelines", or "under what criteria", each with slightly different connotations.

Is "by what principles" formal or informal?

"By what principles" is generally considered a neutral to formal expression, suitable for academic, professional, and journalistic contexts.

What's the difference between "by what principles" and "what principles guide"?

"By what principles" is more interrogative and analytical, while "what principles guide" is a more direct way of asking about the guiding factors. Both are grammatically correct.