is still on the books

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is still on the books" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a law, regulation, or policy is still in effect or has not been repealed. Example: "Despite the changes in society, the old law regarding curfews is still on the books."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

While Queensland may have closed the gay panic loophole save for "exceptional circumstances" to be decided by a judge the defence is still on the books in one final state: South Australia.

Vice

The John Lackey trade with the Cardinals will go down as one of the worst in team history and Sandoval is still on the books for another three seasons at $54.8 million –– not including a $5 million buyout in 2020.

Forbes

(It is still on the books, but rarely enforced).

The New York Times

Governments tried outlawing war (the 1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact is still on the books).

The New York Times

Although the Bush rule is still on the books, the Obama administration has not enforced it.

The New York Times - Health

That law was not at issue in the Citizens United case, and is still on the books.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Those laws are still on the books".

The New York Times

The toxic assets are still on the books.

The New York Times

"I can't believe it's still on the books".

The New York Times

That attempt failed, but the laws allowing it are still on the books, Mr. Wrynn said.

The New York Times

These statutes are still on the books, but the science behind them has changed radically.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is still on the books" when you want to emphasize that a rule, law, or regulation has not been removed or changed, even if it's rarely enforced or seemingly outdated.

Common error

Don't assume that because something "is still on the books", it is actively enforced or relevant. Always check for current practices and interpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is still on the books" functions as a descriptive expression, indicating that a particular law, rule, or regulation remains valid and has not been repealed or amended. As shown by Ludwig, it is frequently found in news and media when discussing legal or policy matters.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Formal & Business

14%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is still on the books" is a descriptive expression that conveys the continuing validity of a law, rule, or regulation. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and media contexts. While not extremely frequent, its usage is consistent, serving to inform that something legally exists even if not actively enforced. When writing, use this phrase to highlight the enduring nature of a rule, but consider that its active relevance might require further investigation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remains in effect

Focuses on the continued validity of a rule or law, differing by using more formal vocabulary.

is still in force

Similar to 'remains in effect' but conveys a stronger sense of active enforcement.

has not been repealed

Specifically emphasizes the absence of a repeal or cancellation of a law or policy.

is still valid

Highlights the ongoing legal or official standing of something.

continues to be law

Emphasizes that something is a legal statute with a long-term duration.

is extant

Uses more formal language to describe something that still exists or is in effect.

persists as a rule

Emphasizes that something continues to exist as a rule.

has not been revoked

Focuses on the absence of a revocation or cancellation of an order or agreement.

is still operative

Highlights that a system or a piece of legislation is still working.

endures as policy

Implies that a policy has withstood changes over time and remains in place.

FAQs

How can I use "is still on the books" in a sentence?

You can use "is still on the books" to indicate that a law, regulation, or policy is still in effect. For example: "Despite the changes in technology, the old regulation regarding fax machines "is still on the books"".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "is still on the books"?

You can use phrases like "remains in effect", "is still in force", or "has not been repealed" as alternatives to ""is still on the books"", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is still in the books" instead of "is still on the books"?

The correct phrase is ""is still on the books"". Using "in" instead of "on" would be grammatically incorrect in this context.

What does "is still on the books" imply about a law or regulation?

It implies that the law or regulation has not been removed or changed, even if it is rarely enforced or seemingly outdated. Something that "is still on the books" may not necessarily be actively applied.