come into force on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come into force on" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or formal contexts to indicate the date when a law, regulation, or agreement becomes effective. Example: "The new regulations will come into force on January 1, 2024."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The new rules come into force on Friday.

The Guardian

The Paris agreement will come into force on 4 November.

The Guardian

The measure was supposed to come into force on March 17th.

The Economist

The move follows pension freedoms for new pensioners which come into force on 6 April.

The Guardian - Money

Further complicating matters, new EU rules on hand luggage come into force on May 6th.

The Economist

If all the cuts come into force on 1 August, farmers will be paid about 25ppl.

The Guardian

The new rules are due to come into force on Friday.

The Guardian

Following agreement among 28 governments, the trade treaty would come into force on a temporary basis.

The Guardian

He said the law was likely to come into force on January 1 2009.

The Guardian

The ceasefire is due to come into force on May 12th, though few believe it will either happen or last.

The Economist

The reforms were proposed by Oskar Lafontaine, the finance minister, and are due to come into force on April 1st.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come into force on" when referring to the specific date a law, regulation, or agreement becomes legally effective. This phrase is particularly appropriate in formal and legal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using other prepositions like "in" or "at" with "come into force". The correct structure is "come into force on [date]" to specify the effective date.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come into force on" functions as a temporal marker indicating when a rule, law, or agreement becomes legally operative. Ludwig confirms this usage across numerous examples, primarily in news and formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "come into force on" is a common and grammatically sound way to specify when a rule, law, or agreement becomes legally effective. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's particularly prevalent in news, formal, and legal contexts. When writing, ensure using the correct preposition ("on") to avoid errors. Consider alternatives like "take effect on" or "become effective on" for slight variations in tone. The phrase's clarity and formality make it a reliable choice for official communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take effect on

Focuses on the action of becoming operative or valid. It's a direct synonym with similar formality.

become effective on

Similar to "take effect", emphasizing the state of being operative from a specific date.

be implemented on

Highlights the act of putting a plan or system into operation. Implies a more active process than "come into force".

go into effect on

An informal alternative, signifying when something starts to produce results or be applied.

be enacted on

Specifically refers to the process of a bill or law being officially passed and put into effect on a certain date. More formal than "come into force".

be applied from

Emphasizes the practical application or enforcement of a rule or law starting from a certain date.

begin on

A more general term signifying the commencement or starting point of something. Less formal than "come into force".

be valid from

Indicates when an agreement, document, or regulation gains legal or official validity.

start to apply on

Similar to "be applied from" but less formal and more conversational.

be operative from

Indicates when something is able to function or take effect. It is often used in legal or formal settings.

FAQs

What does "come into force on" mean?

The phrase "come into force on" means that a law, rule, or agreement becomes legally effective on a specific date. It indicates the commencement date from which the regulation is operative.

What can I say instead of "come into force on"?

You can use alternatives like "take effect on", "become effective on", or "be implemented on" depending on the context.

Is "come into force" different from "take effect"?

While "come into force" and "take effect" are often used interchangeably, "come into force" is more commonly used in formal and legal contexts, while "take effect" has broader application.

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

You can use "come into force on" to specify the exact date when a new law or regulation becomes effective. For example, "The new regulations will come into force on January 1, 2026."