it was complying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was complying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something or someone was following rules, standards, or requests in the past. Example: "During the inspection, it was complying with all safety regulations, which pleased the auditors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Last year the company bowed to state pressure in China and removed major VPN apps from its App Store — saying it was complying with a local regulation that requires VPN apps to be licensed by the government.

TechCrunch

Catalonia's government said it was complying "strictly" with its budget program and would honor its commitments.

The New York Times

In response to the reports, Wal-Mart said it had enhanced its internal controls to ensure that it was complying with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The New York Times

In a statement, Wal-Mart said it had beefed up its internal controls to make sure it was complying with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits American companies from bribing foreign officials to secure business.

The New York Times

The company has maintained that it was complying with Chinese law when its Hong Kong unit turned over the information on the e-mail accounts.

The New York Times

Neither Mr. Austin nor the health center officials would comment for this article, but in early January the center issued a statement that said it was complying with federal guidelines in its treatment of the monkeys.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

It was complied by the American Library Association as part of a their Banned Books Week 2016 – an anti-censorship campaign to promote free speech and freedom of choice.

The Guardian

It was complied under the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

The Government says it is complying with its international obligations.

Independent

Therefore, the Security Council should require Iraq to prove that it is complying with its arms control obligations.

The New York Times

May said Eric Pickles, the communities secretary, was minded to order an investigation into Rotherham, and into whether it is complying with its best practice duty.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was complying", ensure that the context clearly indicates which rules, regulations, or standards were being followed. Providing specific details enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "it was complying" without specifying what the subject was complying with. For instance, instead of saying "The company stated that it was complying", specify "The company stated that it was complying with all environmental regulations".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was complying" primarily functions as part of a clause expressing adherence to a set of rules, regulations, or laws. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is used to describe a past action of conforming to specific requirements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was complying" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote past adherence to rules, regulations, or standards. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's applicable across varied contexts, although it's most prevalent in news and media. For enhanced clarity, always specify which rules or regulations were being followed. When seeking alternative expressions, consider "it was adhering", "it was obeying", or "it was following". Remember, context is key to ensure accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was adhering

Replaces "complying" with "adhering", suggesting a strict and unwavering commitment to a set of rules or guidelines.

it was obeying

Substitutes "complying" with "obeying", implying a more direct and perhaps enforced compliance, often with a specific authority.

it was conforming

Uses "conforming" instead of "complying", indicating alignment with established norms or standards, potentially broader than specific rules.

it was following

Employs "following" in place of "complying", suggesting a process of adhering to instructions or guidelines, step by step.

it was observing

Replaces "complying" with "observing", implying a careful and intentional adherence to laws, customs, or practices.

it was respecting

Uses "respecting" instead of "complying", suggesting deference and consideration towards rules, regulations, or agreements.

it was acting in accordance

Replaces "complying" with "acting in accordance", emphasizing alignment and agreement with established principles or guidelines.

it was in line with

Substitutes "complying" with "in line with", conveying agreement or alignment with standards or expectations.

it was acting by the book

Uses "acting by the book" instead of "complying", suggesting following rules and procedures exactly.

it was meeting requirements

Replaces "complying" with "meeting requirements", emphasizing that specific conditions or demands are satisfied.

FAQs

What does "it was complying" mean?

The phrase "it was complying" means that something or someone was acting in accordance with rules, regulations, laws, or requests at a particular time in the past.

What can I say instead of "it was complying"?

You can use alternatives like "it was adhering", "it was obeying", or "it was following" depending on the specific context.

Is "it was complying" formal or informal?

"It was complying" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "it was adhering" might be preferred in highly formal writing.

How to use "it was complying" in a sentence?

You can use "it was complying" to describe past adherence to rules, for example: "During the audit, the company demonstrated that "it was complying" with all relevant safety standards." Ensure the sentence clearly specifies what the subject was complying with.