make them comply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make them comply" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of ensuring that someone follows rules, regulations, or requests. Example: "The manager's goal was to make them comply with the new safety protocols to ensure a secure work environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"Sometimes they needed to be beaten to make them comply".

The New Yorker

"If you can get creative and make them comply without litigation, I'm pretty impressed".

The New York Times

Victims were often beaten or forced to drink alcohol to make them comply.

Britannica

"The president has time to rescue the process if the conditions are well established and they make them comply.

The New York Times

It should not be used against a mental health patient solely to make them comply or submit to medication, or against passive subjects.

The Guardian

He added: "We know that we can always use the strong arm of the law to make them comply, but we're trying to give our officers tools that will generate voluntary compliance".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Some stated that the chains had 'helped' because it had made them comply with the treatment or had acted as a form of 'negative reinforcement': When I first came here, I was put in chains because they thought I would run away.

Globalization and Health

She views it as a public-relations approach to managing research participants, offering what might seem innovative ideas to "make them want to comply".

Nature

I was the young black man in the building who could walk into the room and grab the attention of the students (90% of them were African American) and make them listen and comply.

HuffPost

He urged people to help him identify the participants: "I'll make them famous". Online vigilantes complied, and several marchers lost their jobs.

The New Yorker

They expected her to go, but she, for the first time, refused; before she always complied to make them happy.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make them comply" when you want to emphasize the action of ensuring that individuals or entities adhere to specific rules, regulations, or requirements.

Common error

Avoid using "make them comply" repeatedly in formal documents. Vary your language with synonyms like "ensure compliance" or "enforce adherence" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make them comply" functions as a directive, indicating an action taken to ensure adherence to rules or regulations. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make them comply" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for expressing the act of ensuring adherence to rules or regulations. While Ludwig AI confirms its general correctness, it's important to consider the context and tone. In more formal settings, alternatives like "ensure their adherence" or "enforce their compliance" might be more appropriate. Analysis of the provided sources suggests that "make them comply" is most frequently found in news, scientific, and business contexts. Therefore, when writing, ensure that the tone and register align with your intended audience and purpose, choosing synonyms that best convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enforce their compliance

Highlights the act of enforcing and the state of being compliant.

force their compliance

Emphasizes the act of forcing and the state of being compliant.

require their compliance

Focuses on establishing a requirement for them to be compliant.

ensure their adherence

Focuses on guaranteeing that they stick to rules or guidelines.

compel their obedience

Highlights the act of compelling and their resulting obedience.

coerce them into compliance

Stresses the use of coercion to achieve compliance.

oblige them to obey

Focuses on creating an obligation for them to obey.

mandate their conformity

Emphasizes the imposition of a mandate leading to conformity.

secure their acquiescence

Highlights gaining their agreement or acceptance, often passively.

bring them into line

Uses an idiomatic expression for enforcing conformity.

FAQs

How can I use "make them comply" in a sentence?

You can use "make them comply" to describe actions taken to ensure adherence to rules or regulations. For example: "The new regulations aim to make companies comply with environmental standards."

What are some alternatives to "make them comply"?

Alternatives include "ensure their adherence", "enforce their compliance", or "require their compliance", depending on the specific context.

Is "make them comply" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "make them comply" can sound direct. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "secure their acquiescence" or "ensure their adherence" for a more nuanced tone.

What's the difference between "make them comply" and "force their compliance"?

"Make them comply" is a more general phrase, while "force their compliance" implies a stronger, more coercive action to ensure adherence. The choice depends on the context and the level of emphasis needed.