involuntary duties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "involuntary duties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe responsibilities or tasks that one is required to perform without choice or consent. Example: "As a volunteer, I found myself taking on involuntary duties that I had not anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The new assault on contract differs from the old in that it proceeds from contract's opposite flank and invokes not the involuntary duties to avoid harm that tort law establishes among strangers but rather the involuntary duties of affirmative other-regard that fiduciary law imposes among intimates.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The challenge from tort casts contract as just a special case of the involuntary duty not to harm others, triggered by promissory representations concerning present intentions or future conduct.

SEP

Stop-loss policy, or the involuntary extension of duty for service members, was frequently invoked in the years after 9/11 and affected an estimated 58,000 soldiers until its use was stemmed shortly after President Barack Obama took office in 2008.

Vice

Mr. Servin was charged with involuntary manslaughter in a 2012 off-duty shooting that resulted in the death of Rekia Boyd, an unarmed black woman.

The New York Times

William Umbach, his flight leader, had been charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and dereliction of duty in the April 2002 incident.

The New York Times

— all of whom are charged with an array of crimes, including dereliction of duty, maltreatment, negligent homicide and involuntary manslaughter.

The New York Times

An Air Force judge now will decide whether to recommend a court-martial of the pilots on charges of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and dereliction of duty.

The New York Times

A6 NATIONAL A13-18 Ain ForCourtlOverin Court Over Attack on Canadians An Air Force judge began weighing whether two pilots should be court-martialed on charges of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and dereliction of duty for an errant bombing run in Afghanistan that killed four Canadians and wounded eight others.

The New York Times

All three were charged with involuntary manslaughter, abuse of minors, and breach of duty.

The New Yorker

He is charged with involuntary manslaughter and other felonies in the off-duty shooting of Rekia Boyd.

Huffington Post

Nick Lyon, the director of Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services, will stand trial for two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of neglect of duty after two men died of Legionnaires' disease during the Flint water crisis in 2015. .

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "involuntary duties", ensure the context clearly establishes the lack of choice or consent involved in performing the duties. This phrase is most effective in legal, ethical, or philosophical discussions where the nature of obligation is central.

Common error

Avoid using "involuntary duties" when referring to tasks someone dislikes but has willingly accepted. The phrase should be reserved for situations where the obligation is genuinely imposed without consent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "involuntary duties" primarily functions as a noun phrase describing obligations or responsibilities that are not undertaken willingly. Ludwig AI indicates it's usable in English, especially in legal or philosophical contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "involuntary duties" refers to responsibilities or tasks performed without choice or consent, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Primarily a noun phrase, it's used in formal contexts, notably within academic, legal, and philosophical discussions. Although grammatically correct, its occurrence is relatively rare. Alternative phrasing such as "compulsory obligations" or "mandatory responsibilities" can be considered depending on the nuance required. Ensure the context clearly highlights the lack of voluntary participation when employing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compulsory obligations

Emphasizes the legally or formally required nature of the obligations.

mandatory responsibilities

Highlights that the responsibilities are not optional.

required duties

Focuses on the necessity of performing the duties.

obligatory tasks

Replaces "duties" with "tasks", suggesting specific actions that must be done.

non-negotiable responsibilities

Stresses that the responsibilities cannot be avoided or altered.

imposed obligations

Indicates that the obligations are placed on someone by an external authority.

inescapable duties

Highlights the impossibility of avoiding these duties.

unavoidable responsibilities

Similar to "inescapable duties", emphasizing the lack of choice.

prescribed duties

Suggests that the duties are officially or formally specified.

coerced responsibilities

Focuses on the element of force or pressure in taking on the responsibilities.

FAQs

How can "involuntary duties" be used in a sentence?

You might say, "The new assault on contract differs from the old in that it proceeds from contract's opposite flank and invokes not the "involuntary duties" to avoid harm that tort law establishes among strangers but rather the involuntary duties of affirmative other-regard that fiduciary law imposes among intimates."

What are some alternatives to "involuntary duties"?

Depending on the context, consider using alternatives like "compulsory obligations", "mandatory responsibilities", or "required duties".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "involuntary duties"?

The phrase "involuntary duties" is suitable for legal, ethical, and philosophical discussions, particularly when exploring the nature of obligations and the lack of consent involved in performing them.

What is the difference between "voluntary duties" and "involuntary duties"?

"Voluntary duties" are tasks or responsibilities undertaken willingly, while ""involuntary duties"" are those imposed on someone without their consent or choice.