by your morals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by your morals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions, decisions, or judgments that are influenced by someone's personal ethical beliefs or standards. Example: "I respect your decision, but I wonder how it aligns with your morals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Stand by your morals.

WikiHow

Speak up! Live by your morals and ideals.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is dangerous to be guided solely by your moral intuition, but surely it's no less dangerous to ignore it.

The New Yorker

Think about it--you're getting rewarded for your "morals" by puttin' out at 17! Most kids our age would get killed for this shit, and I'm going to be on national TV instead.

Huffington Post

The discomfort you remember feeling then may actually be a response rewritten now by your inner moral authority, your "should" voice.

The New York Times

"We ask you to take your responsibilities and assume your moral duty by immediately organising their arrival".

The Guardian

Similarly, certain performers embody particular ethical positions: in the old days, you could set your moral compass by the appearance of John Wayne, Gregory Peck or Jimmy Stewart.

The Guardian - Film

The Westboro website says the church targeted Grady students because "Your parents have broken your moral compass by telling you God loves everyone and it's okay to be gay".

Huffington Post

Speaking at a reception center for displaced refugees on Saturday, Hollande told the crowd that the onus was on Britain to care for the displaced minors, and then he addressed the country generally: "We ask you to take your responsibilities and assume your moral duty by immediately organizing their arrival".

Vice

"The world is ruled by brains by justice, by morals and by fairness".

The New York Times

Realize that the only true way to accept yourself is by adhering to your own moral philosophy.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to act "by your morals", ensure that the context makes it clear whose morals you are referring to, especially if there might be differing ethical frameworks at play.

Common error

Avoid assuming that others share the same moral framework as you. Clearly define or understand the moral basis when advising someone to act "by your morals" to prevent misunderstandings or unintended consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by your morals" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify how an action should be performed. It indicates that the action should be guided or influenced by one's personal ethical principles. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and acceptable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by your morals" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that advises someone to align their actions with their personal ethics. As shown by Ludwig, while not exceedingly common, this phrase has a broad applicability across several contexts like News, Wiki and Science. When using it, ensure you and your audience have a shared understanding of the moral framework being referenced. Alternatives such as "according to your ethics" or "guided by your values" can provide slight variations in formality and emphasis. Using this phrase suggests that actions should reflect an individual's deeply held beliefs about what is right.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

according to your ethics

Replaces "by morals" with the more formal "ethics", emphasizing a structured moral system. It slightly changes the tone to be more formal.

guided by your values

Substitutes "morals" with "values", which is a broader term encompassing personal beliefs and principles. This broadens the scope slightly.

in accordance with your principles

Uses a more formal structure, replacing "by" with "in accordance with" and "morals" with "principles", emphasizing a formal set of rules. It is slightly more formal.

consistent with your beliefs

Shifts the focus to "beliefs", highlighting the alignment of actions with personal convictions. This emphasizes the internal consistency.

true to your conscience

Emphasizes acting in accordance with one's inner moral compass or sense of right and wrong. It gives the idea of introspection.

governed by your ethics

Focuses on the regulation of behavior by a set of ethical standards. Similar to 'according to your ethics', this is more formal than the original phrase.

directed by your moral compass

Uses a metaphor to suggest that morals provide direction and guidance. Implies that moral principles serve as a navigational tool.

led by your integrity

Highlights the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Integrity suggests a steadfast adherence to morals.

following your moral code

Emphasizes adherence to a specific and defined set of moral principles, also being more formal. This phrase implies a structured system of morals.

based on your moral standards

Highlights that actions and decisions stem from personal moral benchmarks. Shifts the focus to evaluating actions against those standards.

FAQs

How can I encourage someone to act "by your morals"?

Instead of directly imposing your morals, try framing your advice as aligning actions with their own deeply held values. Focus on the potential personal satisfaction they might derive from acting in accordance with their own ethical code.

What's the difference between "by your morals" and "by your principles"?

"Morals" generally refer to societal norms of right and wrong, while "principles" are more personal and foundational beliefs. So, you can use alternatives like "by your principles" when talking about someone's core beliefs.

Is it ever inappropriate to advise someone to act "by your morals"?

Yes, especially when dealing with cultural differences or situations where ethical codes clash. In such cases, suggesting they act according to universal ethical standards or with empathy might be more appropriate.

What does it mean to live "by your morals"?

Living "by your morals" means making decisions and behaving in a way that is consistent with your personal sense of what is right and wrong. It involves aligning your actions with your ethical beliefs, even when it's difficult or unpopular.