construed under

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "construed under" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate how a particular law, regulation, or provision should be interpreted or understood. Example: "The contract shall be construed under the laws of the state of California."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

You agree that any dispute arising from, relating to or in any manner connected with this agreement shall be construed under and resolved in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, exclusive of its choice of law principles.

Science Magazine

The Agreement also contains provisions requiring that it be construed under Massachusetts law and that litigation regarding the Agreement take place in Massachusetts courts...Because California law is very hostile to the enforcement of non-compete provisions, the jurisdiction and governing law are likely to be significant in this dispute.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Mr. Clinton, for example, described some fund-raisers who stayed overnight in the Lincoln Bedroom as friends, who could therefore be construed as exempt under the Obama policy.

The New York Times

In reply to an association statement expressing solidarity with Father Flannery, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith denied it was acting in a secretive manner, pointed out that Father Flannery's views could be construed as "heresy" under church law, and threatened "canonical penalties," including excommunication, if he did not change his views.

The New York Times

Democratic Representative Jody Richards also asked for an advisory opinion as to whether a constitutional amendment was required to allow video lottery terminals at the state's racetracks or whether they could be construed as legal under the amendment that allowed a state lottery.

Wikipedia

Annoyance is defined by the context, and 70 dB SPL white noise for a normal hearing person could easily be construed as annoying under some conditions, for example if it were perceived to affect performance in an experiment where the participant wanted to do well.

Plosone

"It could be construed by top management under certain circumstances as not being beneficial to the company," he said.

The New York Times

The typical military approach (which makes sense in wartime, even if it's a cold war) is to keep anything that may be construed as a threat under tight wraps.

The New York Times - Tech

It is so broad that anything could be construed to not fall under that description.

Huffington Post

As pre-existing chronic health conditions may be construed as a disability under the UK Equality Act 2010 [ 20], a past history of depression or an eating disorder cannot lawfully be a criterion on which to refuse entry per se.

BMC Medical Education

It also states that nothing in the measure should be "construed to diminish any rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "construed under" in legal writing, clearly identify the specific law, regulation, or contractual provision that governs the interpretation.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "construed under" grants unlimited interpretive freedom; the interpretation must still align with the intent and purpose of the underlying law or agreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "construed under" functions as a directive, typically within legal or formal contexts, guiding the reader on how a specific term, agreement, or law should be understood or interpreted. Ludwig AI indicates this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "construed under" is a directive term primarily used in legal and formal settings to specify the framework for interpreting laws, contracts, or agreements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and serves to minimize ambiguity by providing a consistent basis for understanding and dispute resolution. While not common in everyday language, understanding its proper usage is crucial in professional and academic contexts, especially within the legal domain. Related phrases include "interpreted according to" and "understood in accordance with", which can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Interpreted according to

Uses "interpreted" instead of "construed", providing a more common synonym, and replaces "under" with "according to".

Read in light of

Suggests interpreting something with consideration for other factors or information.

Considered under

Replaces "construed" with "considered", emphasizing a process of evaluation rather than interpretation.

Defined by

Focuses on how something is specifically defined by a set of rules or criteria.

Evaluated under

Replaces "construed" with "evaluated", emphasizing the process of judging something according to certain standards.

Understood in the context of

Shifts the focus to understanding within a specific context, broadening the scope from strict interpretation.

Assessed based on

Changes the focus to assessing something based on a specific framework or criteria, shifting from interpretation to judgment.

Governed by

Emphasizes the controlling influence of a law or principle, rather than the act of interpreting it.

Regulated by

Highlights the regulatory aspect and controlling power of the law or rule.

Subject to

Indicates that something is affected by or dependent on a particular law or condition.

FAQs

How is "construed under" typically used in legal documents?

In legal documents, "construed under" indicates which jurisdiction's laws or which specific clauses should be used to interpret the meaning of a contract, statute, or other legal instrument. For example, "This agreement shall be "construed under" the laws of the State of Delaware".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "construed under"?

Alternatives to "construed under" include phrases like "interpreted according to", "understood in accordance with", or "governed by", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "construed under" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "construed under" is more suited for formal and legal contexts. In informal writing, it's better to use simpler alternatives like "understood as" or "seen as".

What does it mean when a contract states it will be "construed under" a particular state's laws?

It means that if there's a dispute about the meaning of the contract, the courts will interpret the contract based on the legal precedents and statutes of that specific state. This can significantly affect the outcome of any litigation.