mandatory option

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mandatory option" is not correct in standard English usage.
The term is contradictory, as "mandatory" implies something that is required, while "option" suggests a choice. Example: "The form requires a mandatory option for selecting your preferred contact method, which cannot be left blank."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Sky Sport Italia reported on Friday that Quique Sánchez Flores' high flying Hornets had agreed a six-month loan deal with Roma with a mandatory option to make the transfer permanent for around £14 million.

Independent

Mandatory option to delete duplicate titles from gamercard (excludes Games for Windows – LIVE).

TechCrunch

Supply of freshwater, which is a mandatory option for algae culture in these cases, is also not an environment-friendly concept (Chisti 2013).

Petroleum Science

and in this rare situation biopsy is not mandatory (option).

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But these prices are theoretical because Toyota lets dealers in different regions require mandatory options.

The New York Times

If action by the industry does not sufficiently reduce consumer harm, we may consider mandatory options to tackle the problem".

The Guardian - Money

But choosing the EcoBoost engine can be even more costly, because of "mandatory options" that must be purchased.

The New York Times

If you're going to fetishise every single character in possession of a pair of boobs, you could at least make them look like actual boobs, rather than the current seemingly mandatory options: immovable unripe melons and jiggle-happy jugs.

The Guardian - Tech

The mandatory options correspond to (i) a place holder named target, i.e., a DIV element in the web page where the annotations will be rendered, and (ii) a JSON object, named json, with the configuration, the protein identifier, the annotations, and the legend.

F1000Research

Participants ranked (1, most agreeable) the following, randomly-presented, options from 1 to 11: no-organ-donation, presumed consent, informed consent by donor-only, informed consent by donor-or-surrogate, and mandatory choice; the last three options ± medical or financial incentive.

BMC Medical Ethics

At the same time, the court required that the N.C.A.A. increase scholarship payouts to cover the full cost of college attendance, thus making mandatory an option that the N.C.A.A. first permitted a few years ago.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "mandatory option" in formal writing. Instead, clarify whether you mean something is required or if there's a genuine choice to be made.

Common error

Don't assume readers will understand that a "mandatory option" is a required selection. Be explicit by stating what is required and what choices are available (if any).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mandatory option" attempts to combine the concepts of obligation and choice. Ludwig AI indicates that it is generally not considered standard English usage due to the contradictory nature of its components.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mandatory option" is considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI because it combines contradictory terms. While it appears in some sources, particularly News & Media and Science, its usage is infrequent, and clearer alternatives like "required choice" or "compulsory selection" are recommended to avoid ambiguity. When writing, ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is required and what choices are genuinely available. Its presence in different contexts suggests its meaning is often understood but can be easily misconstrued. Using less ambiguous phrases is always the preferred approach, especially in formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

required choice

Replaces "mandatory" with "required", emphasizing the necessity of making a selection from available options.

compulsory selection

Uses "compulsory" instead of "mandatory", highlighting the obligatory nature of the selection process.

mandatory selection

Retains "mandatory" but replaces "option" with "selection", clarifying that a choice must be made.

necessary option

Substitutes "mandatory" with "necessary", implying that the option is essential in a given situation.

obligatory choice

Uses "obligatory" to reinforce the binding nature of the choice.

required component

Focuses on the essential nature of the option by referring to it as a "required component".

essential selection

Emphasizes the critical importance of the option by calling it an "essential selection".

mandatory inclusion

Shifts the focus to the inclusion of the option as a requirement.

unavoidable selection

Stresses the lack of alternatives by describing the selection as "unavoidable".

prescribed option

Indicates that the option is specified or directed by a higher authority or regulation.

FAQs

Is the phrase "mandatory option" grammatically correct?

The phrase "mandatory option" is generally considered contradictory, as "mandatory" implies a requirement while "option" suggests a choice. It is better to use clearer alternatives depending on the intended meaning.

What are some alternatives to "mandatory option"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "required choice", "compulsory selection", or describe the situation more explicitly to avoid ambiguity.

How can I use "mandatory option" correctly in a sentence?

While it's best to avoid the phrase, if you must use it, ensure the sentence clearly indicates the required selection: "The form requires a "mandatory option" for selecting your preferred contact method, which cannot be left blank."

Is there a difference between "mandatory option" and "mandatory options"?

While both phrases are problematic, "mandatory options" might suggest multiple required choices, whereas "mandatory option" implies a single required selection from a set of choices. Clearer phrasing is recommended in both cases.