complies by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complies by" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate that someone is adhering to a specific requirement or guideline, but it is better to use more conventional phrasing. Example: "The company complies by following all safety regulations."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"Sanctions and other pressures must be continued and stepped up until Iran complies by halting enrichment activities in a verifiable way".

The New York Times

And the hamburger complies, by being an extremely forgiving food.

Huffington Post

Brahma asks Rudra to divide himself, and the latter complies by dividing into male and female.

Wikipedia

Cersei seems to force Petyr to spy on the Tyrells for her, and he complies by sending Loras a frisky "squire" named Oliver.

Huffington Post

When attempts at communicating fail, Archer demands that Shran intervenes — he complies by explaining how to knock out its shields — but the attempt is ineffective.

Wikipedia

While New York City has the best tennis players in the world on display for two weeks every late August-early September, Boston claims the best golfers in the world and the PGA Tour complies by staging the second round of the tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs at the Tournament Players Club.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Mr. Bush had hoped to comply by next year.

The New York Times

The airlines might comply by reducing baggage allowances.

The New York Times

But the companies are bound to comply by Friday.

The Guardian

Congress complied by passing the Indian Removal Act (1830).

Britannica

Businesses with over 25 employees must comply by 2022.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "complies by", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific method or means through which compliance is achieved. For clarity, consider alternatives like "complies by adhering to" or "complies by following".

Common error

Avoid using "complies by" without specifying how the compliance is achieved. Saying "the company complies by regulations" is vague; instead, specify the actions taken: "The company complies by implementing safety protocols."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complies by" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that a subject fulfills a requirement or obligation through a specific action or method. Ludwig indicates this is not standard English, but still understandable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while understandable, the phrase "complies by" is not the most standard way to express adherence to a rule or standard. Ludwig highlights its grammatical ambiguity. Its meaning centers around fulfilling an obligation through specific actions, most frequently encountered in news articles and encyclopedic entries. For clearer and more precise writing, consider alternatives like "complies with", "adheres to", or explicitly state how the compliance is achieved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adheres by

Uses "adheres" instead of "complies", implying a stricter, more steadfast form of compliance.

conforms through

Employs "conforms" and "through" offering a nuance implying compliance is achieved via a particular method or channel.

follows by

Replaces "complies" with "follows", suggesting adherence to a procedure or set of instructions.

obeys by

Substitutes "complies" with "obeys", implying compliance with a command or authority.

acts in accordance through

A longer phrase which suggests formal behaviour and compliance.

fulfills through

Implies that a requirement is met using certain means.

implements by

Similar to adheres by but suggesting practical application.

observes through

Suggests careful and sustained compliance.

respects by

Compliance is obtained through respecting rules or standards.

upholds through

Compliance is achieved by upholding certain standards or values.

FAQs

What does "complies by" mean?

"Complies by" suggests that someone adheres to a rule or request through a specific action or method. It highlights the way in which compliance is achieved.

Is "complies by" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "complies by" isn't the most standard phrasing. Alternatives like "complies by adhering to" or simply /s/complies+with are often clearer and more grammatically conventional.

What are some alternatives to "complies by"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like /s/adheres+to, "conforms to", or /s/follows+the+rules instead of "complies by".

How can I make my use of "complies by" clearer?

Be specific about the means of compliance. Instead of "the system complies by regulations", specify "the system complies by automatically updating security patches".