complying to

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence.
The use of the phrase "complying to" to mean "complying with" is incorrect and not recommended in written English. To use it correctly, it should be written as "complying with." For example, "They plan on complying with the new regulations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

We are complying to make things better.

The New York Times

"There would not be courage and no glory in voting a law by using slogans more than arguments and by complying to the dominant political correctness," Rabbi Bernheim wrote.

The New York Times

"To be clear, Dow operates with the highest degree of ethics and meets all of the regulatory requirements that are put upon us, but also is complying to a standard that's quite high from a global perspective," said Desai.

The Guardian

More of the reasons for that in a bit, but suffice to say the clowns at the Football Association couldn't have done a worse job as keepers of the flame had they approached the task wielding a bucket of water, another bucket containing sand, and a thick fibreglass blanket complying to health and safety regulations in a quick-release container.

The Guardian - Sport

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice argued, however, that the United States was legally obligated by the United Nations Charter to follow the international court's decisions, and she emphasized the importance of complying to ensure reciprocal Vienna Convention protections for Americans arrested overseas.

The New York Times

No wonder so few employees are satisfied with their flexible working options: working eight until five instead of nine until six isn't "flexible" – you might be arriving a little bit later, but you're still on someone else's timetable; still complying to an outdated and unnecessary set of rules.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

And they have duly complied (to our shame, us included).

The Guardian - Music

Google complied to some degree with 88% of requests.

The Guardian - Tech

They might even comply to BYOB rules.

TechCrunch

Do you comply to avoid his/her negative responses?

Huffington Post

Sequences complied to a classical consensus GTrnG…yAG.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "complying with" instead of "complying to". The preposition "with" is grammatically correct and widely accepted in standard English.

Common error

Avoid using "to" after "complying". The correct preposition is "with". For example, instead of saying 'The company is complying to the regulations', say 'The company is complying with the regulations'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complying to" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used to indicate adherence or conformity. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with "complying with".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "complying to" is a grammatically incorrect construction that should be avoided in formal English. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "complying with". Although "complying to" appears with common frequency, especially in Science and News & Media contexts, this doesn't validate its usage. Always use "complying with" to ensure grammatical accuracy and maintain credibility in your writing. Consider alternatives like "adhering to" or "conforming to" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complying with

Replaces the incorrect preposition "to" with the correct preposition "with".

adhering to

Substitutes "complying" with "adhering", offering a more formal tone while maintaining the meaning of following rules.

conforming to

Replaces "complying" with "conforming", emphasizing alignment with standards or norms.

abiding by

Uses "abiding by" instead of "complying to", indicating adherence to rules or laws.

following

A more general term that can replace "complying to" in contexts where simply adhering to guidelines is meant.

obeying

Replaces "complying" with "obeying", implying a more direct form of following orders or commands.

meeting

Substitutes "complying" with "meeting", focusing on fulfilling requirements or standards.

fulfilling

Replaces "complying" with "fulfilling", highlighting the act of satisfying obligations or expectations.

in accordance with

A formal phrase indicating agreement or conformity with rules or standards.

observing

Uses "observing" instead of "complying", suggesting a more passive adherence to guidelines or practices.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "complying to"?

The correct way to express adherence or conformity is by using the phrase "complying with". For example, "The company is complying with the new regulations" is grammatically correct.

What other phrases can I use instead of "complying to"?

Instead of "complying to", you can use alternatives like "adhering to", "conforming to", or "abiding by", depending on the specific context.

Why is "complying to" considered incorrect?

The phrase "complying to" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct preposition to use with "complying" is "with". Using "to" is a common mistake but should be avoided in formal writing.

Is there a difference in meaning between "complying to" and "complying with"?

While people might understand what you mean by "complying to", it's considered grammatically incorrect. The only correct and accepted form is "complying with", which means to act in accordance with a rule, law, or request.