must be ratified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be ratified" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal, political, or formal contexts to indicate that something requires official approval or confirmation. Example: "The treaty must be ratified by all member states before it can take effect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They then must be ratified by the Legislature.

The New York Times

They must be ratified by an absolute majority of the legislative assembly.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Asmussen's appointment must be ratified by other European leaders, but is a foregone conclusion.

The New York Times

The settlement must be ratified by a federal court to take effect.

The New York Times - Science

But a vote on that must be ratified by the new MPR.

The Economist

The selection must be ratified by the 15-member City Council within 45 days.

The New York Times

To take effect, the treaty must be ratified by all 27 states in the European Union.

The New York Times

The treaty must be ratified by 50 nations before it can take effect.

The New York Times

The agreement must be ratified by both sides, but they say that is a foregone conclusion.

The New York Times - Sports

Sometimes they must be ratified by still another set of elected or appointed officials.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The change in bylaws must be ratified again next year to go into effect.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must be ratified", ensure that the subject performing the ratification is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "the treaty must be ratified by the Senate" rather than simply "the treaty must be ratified".

Common error

A common mistake is stating that something "must be ratified" without specifying who needs to ratify it. Always clarify the entity responsible for the ratification to maintain clarity and avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be ratified" functions as a passive voice construction expressing a requirement for formal approval. As Ludwig AI suggests, it typically appears in legal, political, or formal contexts, indicating that something needs official confirmation before it can take effect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must be ratified" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression indicating the necessity of formal approval. Ludwig AI confirms its prevalence in legal, political, and formal settings. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it signifies that an agreement, treaty, or decision requires official confirmation before it can be enacted. When using this phrase, ensure the ratifying body is clearly specified to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases like "needs to be approved" or "has to be confirmed" can be used in less formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is to be ratified

Uses the infinitive form to express a future action that is required.

needs to be approved

Replaces 'must be' with 'needs to be', simplifying the modal verb construction.

has to be confirmed

Substitutes 'ratified' with 'confirmed' and 'must be' with 'has to be', using a more informal tone.

requires official endorsement

Replaces the passive construction with an active one, focusing on the action of 'endorsement'.

is subject to approval

Uses a prepositional phrase instead of a verb phrase to convey the necessity of approval.

is pending ratification

Indicates the state of being in the process of ratification, rather than the necessity of it.

awaits confirmation

Similar to 'is pending ratification', but emphasizes the waiting aspect of the confirmation process.

is up for ratification

Uses a more colloquial expression to indicate that something is being considered for ratification.

demands ratification

Shifts the focus to what requires ratification, rather than the act itself.

necessitates endorsement

Uses a more formal and emphatic tone to highlight the need for endorsement.

FAQs

What does "must be ratified" mean?

The phrase "must be ratified" means that something needs to be formally approved or confirmed, typically by a governing body or authority, before it can become valid or take effect. Similar phrases include "needs to be approved" or "has to be confirmed".

How is "must be ratified" used in a sentence?

In a sentence, "must be ratified" indicates a requirement for formal approval. For example, "The treaty must be ratified by the Senate before it becomes law." Other ways to phrase this include "is to be ratified" or "requires official endorsement".

What's the difference between "must be ratified" and "must be approved"?

While both imply a need for authorization, "must be ratified" often suggests a more formal and official process, such as the approval of a treaty or constitutional amendment. "Must be approved" is a more general term for needing endorsement. The difference is subtle but important in certain contexts, like when dealing with legal documents.

Can "must be ratified" be used in informal contexts?

While "must be ratified" is generally used in formal contexts, it can be used in informal settings when emphasizing the absolute necessity of approval. However, alternatives like "needs to be approved" or "has to be confirmed" might be more appropriate for casual conversation.