is within the competence of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is within the competence of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a task or responsibility falls under someone's area of expertise or authority. Example: "The decision regarding budget allocations is within the competence of the finance department."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The leading textbook on Scottish constitutional law confirms the Scottish Government's long-held position that a consultative referendum is within the competence of the Scottish Parliament.

Independent

We will not be able to solve all financial problems through this programme, but we can provide a lot of inspiration, in particular for measures at national level so that education, which is within the competence of the Member States, becomes the focus of national approaches or of the Lisbon Strategy.

EU Parlament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The draft also speaks of "the history of concealment of Iran's nuclear activities" and asserts that a "resulting absence of confidence that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes" has "given rise to questions that are within the competence of the Security Council".

The New York Times

Lord Gill said: "The appellants accept that it was within the competence of the Scottish Parliament to provide for a crofting community right to buy".

BBC

Justice George Sutherland, writing for the majority, upheld the power of the president, finding: That the negotiations, acceptance of the assignment and agreements and understandings in respect thereof were within the competence of the President may not be doubted.

Wikipedia

Harmonization of public health laws is not considered to be within the competence of the EU[ 7].

BMC Public Health

In addition, collaborative international health research, multi-centre studies, and long-term studies exceeding one year in duration, are not considered to be within the competence of a level 1 REC.

BMC Medical Ethics

Given a presumptively strong interest in risk avoidance and means of risk reduction that are within the competence of the target group, the advance of knowledge may almost be enough in itself to yield substantial health gains – needing only to be supplemented by routine mass communications and the normal repertoires of social interaction.

BMC Public Health

A spokesperson added: "We continue to maintain that the Bill is within the legislative competence of the Assembly.

BBC

Statements from the Presiding Officer and the member in charge of the bill are also lodged indicating whether the bill is within the legislative competence of the Parliament.

Wikipedia

"With regard to the Brunson case, necessary information has been provided to our U.S. counterparts on various occasions and it has been clearly expressed that this issue is totally within the competence of the independent Turkish judiciary," Aksoy told the agency.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is within the competence of" to clearly define the boundaries of responsibility or authority, particularly in legal, official, or formal contexts. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity regarding who is authorized to act or make decisions.

Common error

Avoid using "is within the competence of" when you actually mean "is within the capability of". Competence refers to legal or designated authority, whereas capability refers to the ability or skill to perform a task. Saying a task "is within the competence of" someone implies they are authorized to do it, not necessarily that they are able to do it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is within the competence of" functions as a predicate adjective, specifying the scope of authority or jurisdiction. This means it describes the limits of what someone or something is officially allowed or qualified to handle. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is within the competence of" serves to clearly define the scope of authority or responsibility held by an individual or entity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a grammatically sound phrase, often found in formal contexts such as legal and official documents. Alternatives include phrases such as "is under the jurisdiction of" or "is within the purview of", but each carries a slightly different nuance. Remember to use it to clearly demarcate responsibilities and avoid confusion in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is under the jurisdiction of

Focuses specifically on legal or regulatory authority over a matter.

is within the purview of

Implies something falls under the scope or responsibility of someone or something.

is within the authority of

Highlights the power or right to make decisions or take action.

is within the mandate of

Emphasizes that something is specifically authorized or required by an official instruction.

is within the domain of

Indicates the area of expertise or responsibility.

is within the remit of

Focuses on the assigned duties or tasks.

is the responsibility of

Directly assigns accountability for something.

falls under the responsibility of

Emphasizes the act of something being included in the responsibility.

is the prerogative of

Highlights a special right or privilege.

is the duty of

Emphasizes a moral or legal obligation.

FAQs

What does "is within the competence of" mean?

The phrase "is within the competence of" means that something falls under the authority, jurisdiction, or designated responsibility of a person, body, or organization. It indicates that they have the legal or official right to deal with a particular matter.

When is it appropriate to use "is within the competence of"?

Use "is within the competence of" in formal or legal contexts when you want to clearly define who has the authority or jurisdiction over a specific task, decision, or area of responsibility. It is particularly useful when delineating powers between different bodies or individuals.

What are some alternatives to "is within the competence of"?

You can use alternatives such as "is under the jurisdiction of", "is within the purview of", or "is within the authority of" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "is within the competence of" and "is the responsibility of"?

While both phrases indicate accountability, "is within the competence of" focuses more on legal or official authority, whereas "is the responsibility of" simply implies that someone is accountable for something, regardless of whether they have specific legal authority.