conflicting principles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conflicting principles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations where two or more principles or values are in opposition to each other. Example: "The debate centered around the conflicting principles of freedom of speech and the need to prevent hate speech."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

He did so by embracing two cardinal and often conflicting principles.

Yale University

Despite based on apparently conflicting principles, both models can reproduce quite well FCG curves, a somewhat surprising result.

International Journal of Fatigue

"Under conflicting principles and pressures," Mr. Feinberg approved multimillion-dollar packages for many executives, the audit said.

The New York Times

Yet, with concentration, what initially seems less like an exhibition than a mass of undifferentiated information comes into partial focus as a series of deliberately orchestrated skirmishes between conflicting principles and entities — corporate and private, decorative and essential.

The New York Times

Despite based on conflicting principles, both models can reproduce quite well FCG data obtained under quasi-constant ΔK loading, a somewhat surprising result that deserves to be carefully analyzed.

International Journal of Fatigue

Their operations commander, Colonel Walter Enuma, said that the police had had "enough of this chequebook war", implying that both sides were using cash handouts to curry favour around the country.The Supreme Court has had to wrestle with conflicting principles.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Interestingly, ART improves Transition Patching and Patching despite that their best scheduling policy, MCF-P (RAP), depends on a conflicting principle.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

The problem, I believe, lies not in the partisan nature of the issues but rather in the deeply rooted, and conflicting, legal principles that are involved.

The New York Times

Doubts become especially emotional when there are deep disagreements as to how much weight should be given to conflicting ethical principles.

Technology in Society

(In addition, what does the approach say if a given group has multiple sub-communities with conflicting epistemic principles?) This is an extremely restrictive condition.

SEP

In so doing, he sought a middle ground between conflicting legal principles.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conflicting principles" to describe situations where a clear resolution is difficult to achieve, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and trade-offs.

Common error

Avoid presenting "conflicting principles" as easily resolvable. Instead, highlight the challenges and trade-offs involved in navigating these situations. Acknowledge the validity of different perspectives to enhance credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conflicting principles" functions as a noun phrase, where "conflicting" acts as an adjective modifying "principles". As confirmed by Ludwig, it describes a situation involving opposing or contradictory guidelines and values, making it useful for discussing complex decisions and ethical dilemmas.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

25%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

14%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "conflicting principles" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term to describe situations where opposing values, guidelines, or beliefs create a dilemma. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately conveys the presence of incompatible elements, typically requiring careful analysis and decision-making. Usage ranges from academic and scientific contexts to news media, reflecting its relevance in discussing ethical, legal, and strategic challenges. When using the phrase, it's important to acknowledge the inherent complexity of the conflict, rather than oversimplifying it. Alternatives such as "opposing tenets" or "competing values" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposing tenets

Emphasizes a formal disagreement between established beliefs or doctrines.

contradictory tenets

Highlights the logical incompatibility between different beliefs or doctrines.

clashing ideals

Focuses on the incompatibility of different aspirations or ultimate goals.

competing values

Stresses the conflict arising from prioritizing different ethical or moral standards.

divergent guidelines

Highlights the separation and lack of alignment between different sets of instructions or advice.

incompatible doctrines

Focuses on the impossibility of reconciling different sets of beliefs or teachings.

antithetical concepts

Emphasizes the direct opposition and mutual exclusiveness of different ideas or notions.

opposing viewpoints

Highlights the disagreement and contrast between different perspectives or opinions.

conflicting ideologies

Focuses on the deep-seated opposition between different systems of thought and belief.

irreconcilable differences

Emphasizes the impossibility of resolving the disagreements or conflicts between different parties or ideas.

FAQs

How can I use "conflicting principles" in a sentence?

You can use "conflicting principles" to describe situations where different guidelines or values are in opposition. For example: "The manager had to navigate the "conflicting principles" of maximizing profit and ensuring employee well-being."

What is a good alternative to "conflicting principles"?

Alternatives to "conflicting principles" include "opposing tenets", "competing values", or "clashing ideals depending on the specific context".

Is it correct to say "principles are in conflict"?

Yes, saying "principles are in conflict" is grammatically correct and conveys a similar meaning to "conflicting principles". Both phrases describe a situation where different principles are at odds with each other.

What's the difference between "conflicting principles" and "competing priorities"?

"Conflicting principles" refers to fundamental beliefs or values that are in opposition, while "competing priorities" refers to different goals or tasks that are vying for attention and resources. Principles are more foundational, whereas priorities are more situational.