in force from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in force from" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the date or time when a law, regulation, or agreement becomes effective. Example: "The new policy will be in force from January 1, 2024."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

The strikes will be in force from 6 30pm on Tuesday and 6 30pm on Thursday.

Independent

A curfew remains in force from 7pm to 6am under emergency laws re-imposed last week.

The Guardian

9pm: small bars of Adelaide Redrawn licensing laws, in force from 2013, set off Adelaide's small bar scene.

The Guardian - Travel

When they show up in force, from late October through December, they are anywhere from 50 to 100percentt larger than their Montauk cousins.

The New York Times - Sports

There was also one in force from 14 January 2011 – hours after the flight of dictator Ben Ali – until March last year.

The Guardian

It remained in force from the 1270s until the Norske Lov of 1687; the version of the code for Iceland (the Jónsbók, 1281) is still partly in force.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

The army recruited thousands of West Timorese and brought in forces from Java.

The Guardian

Munich police also tweeted to say they had brought in forces from other regions to support them, alongside special forces.

Independent

In comparison, the increase in forcing from carbon dioxide is 0.107 watts per square meter, or a factor of 13 greater.

The New York Times

The Taliban had been calling in forces from all over the tribal areas, particularly from Orakzai and Kurram tribal agencies, since June, the Taliban organizer said.

The New York Times

[Radiative forcing is the amount of imbalance between energy reaching the Earth and radiating into space.] Over the same 2007-2011 intheval, the calculated increase in forcing from methane is 0.008 watts per square meter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For less formal writing, you can replace "in force from" with words like "starting", "beginning on", or "effective from".

Common error

Avoid using future tense when describing a past or current effective date. For example, instead of "The policy will be "in force from" last year", say "The policy was "in force from" last year".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in force from" functions as an adverbial phrase specifying the commencement date of a rule, law, policy, or agreement. It modifies the verb by indicating when something becomes effective, as shown by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

24%

Science

24%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in force from" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate the starting date or time when a rule, law, agreement, or policy becomes effective. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and common, particularly in formal contexts. While alternatives like "effective from" exist, "in force from" is often preferred in legal or official documents. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying the exact date and avoiding incorrect tenses. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Science.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in effect from

Similar to "in force from", but slightly more general.

effective from

Replaces "in force" with "effective", emphasizing the start of effectiveness.

taking effect on

Highlights the moment something becomes active.

operative from

Uses "operative" instead of "in force", indicating when something begins to operate or function.

valid from

Substitutes "in force" with "valid", focusing on the start of validity.

applicable from

Replaces "in force" with "applicable", emphasizing the start of applicability.

commencing from

Uses "commencing" to indicate the start date.

implemented as of

Focuses on the implementation date.

beginning on

A simpler way to express the start date.

starting

A concise way to indicate the commencement of something.

FAQs

What does "in force from" mean?

The phrase "in force from" indicates the date or time when a rule, law, agreement, or policy becomes effective and legally binding. It specifies the starting point of its validity or operation.

What are some alternatives to "in force from"?

You can use alternatives such as "effective from", "valid from", "operative from", or "applicable from" to express a similar meaning.

How do I use "in force from" in a sentence?

Use "in force from" to specify the starting date of a policy, law, or agreement. For example, "The new regulations are "in force from" July 1, 2025." or "The contract is "in force from" the date of signing."

Is it better to use "in force from" or "effective from"?

Both "in force from" and "effective from" are correct and often interchangeable. "In force from" might be preferred in more formal or legal contexts, while "effective from" is slightly more versatile.