enforce regulations

USAGE SUMMARY

"enforce regulations" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation in which regulations are not being followed and need to be reinforced or reinforced more strictly. For example, "The company recently decided to enforce regulations pertaining to office attire in order to maintain a professional environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A bureau of safety and environmental enforcement would enforce regulations and perform other police functions.

The New York Times

Moreover, courts often take a dim view of competitors seeking to enforce regulations, finding that only regulators have the authority to do so.

Harvard Business Review

But his allegations paint a particularly harsh picture of a drug enforcement system designed to do anything but enforce regulations.

The New York Times - Sports

Governments must implement and enforce regulations to save declining fisheries.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It may, therefore, enforce regulations prohibiting unreasonable fees.

Cornell University

They provide an informal monitoring role for government departments that are stretched to enforce regulations.

The Economist

Even then, the organisation relies on its members to enforce regulations.

The Economist

The City of Oakland is correct to enforce regulations put in place to protect its citizens.

The New York Times - Magazine

The commission has jurisdiction to enforce regulations that prohibit "unfair" or "deceptive" marketing.

The New York Times

The Board of Elections lacks the staff to enforce regulations or investigate problems.Is it any wonder locals are cynical?

The Economist

They have been skeptical of the use of class-action suits to achieve social goals or enforce regulations.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "enforce regulations", specify which entity is responsible for enforcement to provide clarity and accountability. For example: "The environmental agency will enforce regulations regarding industrial waste."

Common error

Avoid using "enforce regulations" when you mean to "create regulations". Enforcement refers to the act of making sure existing rules are followed, while creation involves establishing new rules.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enforce regulations" functions as a verb phrase where "enforce" is the transitive verb and "regulations" is the direct object. It describes the action of compelling compliance with established rules. Ludwig AI confirms it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "enforce regulations" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe the act of ensuring compliance with established rules. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase. It is most frequently found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. When using the phrase, it's essential to specify the enforcing entity and to avoid confusing it with the creation of regulations. Consider using alternatives like "implement regulations" or "apply regulations" for nuanced meanings. The high frequency and widespread use of "enforce regulations" across authoritative sources underscore its reliability and importance in formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

implement regulations

Focuses on putting regulations into action, differing from simply ensuring compliance.

apply regulations

Highlights the act of using regulations in specific situations, rather than the overall enforcement.

administer regulations

Implies a more managerial role in overseeing the application of regulations.

police regulations

Emphasizes monitoring and maintaining order with respect to regulations, similar to law enforcement.

execute regulations

Highlights the formal carrying out or implementation of regulatory requirements.

ensure compliance with regulations

Shifts the focus to achieving adherence to regulations, rather than the act of enforcing.

oversee regulations

Suggests a supervisory role in managing and directing the application of regulations.

uphold regulations

Focuses on maintaining and defending the validity and application of regulations.

monitor regulations

Implies an ongoing process of checking and observing the application of regulations.

mandate regulations

Highlights the act of officially requiring or ordering compliance with regulations.

FAQs

How to use "enforce regulations" in a sentence?

You can use "enforce regulations" to describe the act of ensuring that rules and laws are followed, as in "The government is working to enforce regulations on air pollution".

What can I say instead of "enforce regulations"?

You can use alternatives like "implement regulations", "apply regulations", or "administer regulations" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "enforce regulations" or "enforce rule"?

While "enforce regulations" is generally used for a set of rules, "enforce rule" is acceptable when referring to a specific, single rule. It depends on whether you are dealing with multiple rules or a single one.

What's the difference between "enforce regulations" and "ensure regulations"?

"Enforce regulations" means to actively make sure the regulations are being followed, while "ensure regulations" suggests making certain that regulations exist or are in place. The first implies action, the second, a state of being.