come into force

USAGE SUMMARY

"come into force" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a law or rule has started to be implemented. For example: "The new parking regulations will come into force next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The bans come into force immediately.

Independent

When will it come into force?

The Guardian - Tech

Q: When will it come into force?

The Guardian

Others will come into force soon afterwards.

The Guardian

These could come into force as early as 2012-13.

The Economist

The revised limits would come into force in July 2010.

Encyclopedia Britannica

New advertising rules will also come into force.

The Guardian

A free-trade deal will come into force in September.

The Economist

Additional rules will come into force over time.

The New York Times

United States rules, meanwhile, are ready to come into force.

The New York Times

The Paris agreement will come into force on 4 November.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come into force" to clearly indicate the specific date or event from which a law, rule, or agreement becomes operational and legally binding.

Common error

Avoid using past tenses when referring to future implementation. Instead of saying 'The law came into force', say 'The law will come into force' when discussing future enactment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come into force" functions as a verb phrase indicating the moment when a law, rule, or agreement becomes legally valid and operative. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's widely used to describe the effective date of regulations or policies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "come into force" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe when a law, regulation, or agreement becomes legally valid and operational. Ludwig confirms its widespread use across various contexts, especially in news, science, and formal business settings. It is crucial to use the correct tense and avoid common errors to ensure clarity. Related phrases, like "take effect" or "become effective", can be used as alternatives depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to use this phrase when you want to specify the precise moment a rule or law becomes active.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become effective

Focuses on the result of starting to have an effect.

take effect

Highlights the action of something beginning to operate or be applied.

go into effect

Similar to 'take effect' but emphasizes a process of starting.

be implemented

Highlights the act of putting a decision or plan into effect.

be enacted

Focuses on the legislative process of making something a law.

be applied

Focuses on the action of using the rule, law, or agreement.

be activated

Similar to "come into force" with a sense of something being switched on.

go live

Emphasizes the immediate start of something, often in a technological context.

be valid

States that something is officially accepted as conforming to the law or rules.

begin operation

Highlights the start of a process or system.

FAQs

What does "come into force" mean?

The phrase "come into force" means to become legally valid and operative; to take effect. It is typically used to describe when a law, regulation, or agreement becomes active.

When is it appropriate to use "come into force"?

It's appropriate to use "come into force" when discussing the effective date or implementation of a new law, regulation, or agreement. For example, "The new policy will "take effect"/ "become effective" on January 1st."

What are some alternatives to "come into force"?

Alternatives to "come into force" include "take effect", "become effective", "go into effect", or "be implemented". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How do I use "come into force" in a sentence?

You can use "come into force" like this: "The new regulations will "come into force" next month", or "The agreement will "come into force" upon ratification by all member states."