must be regular

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be regular" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is required to follow a consistent or standard pattern or frequency. Example: "To maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise must be regular to see significant results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

France cannot do yo-yo now – their trajectory must be regular and upwardly steep.

The Guardian - Sport

There was the schedule he worked, and there was managing his medical treatment, which must be regular.

The New York Times - Arts

The modal ray path must be regular polygon or polystar.

Journal of Applied Geophysics

An open packing of spheres must be regular, at least in two dimensions, and preference is given to arrangements that are related to (4 2 -connected three-dimensional (3D) nets.

Nanoscale Research Letters

In order to make a singular system solvable with no impulse behavior and unique solution, the system must be regular and the initial condition must be compatible, which can be acquired similarly to the method presented in [20].

Advances in Difference Equations

And, although surely there must be regular folk that are, indeed, interested if not obsessed, I don't see anything tragic about it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"The difference between such numbers must not be regular.

The New York Times - Science

Exercise must be a regular activity in your day even after the week is up if you want to continue to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

WikiHow

Giovanni Trapattoni praised Robbie Brady for his impressive Republic of Ireland debut against Oman but warned the 20-year-old that he must be playing regular first-team football to make the national team on a regular basis.

The Guardian - Sport

You must be a regular here.

The New Yorker

With those haircuts it must be a regular occurrence.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must be regular" ensure that the context clearly indicates what needs to be consistent. For example, "Medication intake must be regular to maintain its effectiveness."

Common error

Avoid using "must be regular" when referring to situations where occasional adjustments or flexibility are needed. Opt for phrases like "should be generally consistent" in such scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be regular" functions as a modal expression indicating necessity. According to Ludwig, the phrase implies a requirement for consistency or conformity to a standard. Examples show its usage in contexts requiring routines or consistent actions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must be regular" is used to emphasize the necessity for consistency or adherence to a standard schedule or pattern. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct. While examples are somewhat rare, the phrase finds usage across various contexts like science, news, and formal business settings. Alternatives such as "needs to be consistent" or "should be routine" can be used depending on the context. When employing "must be regular", clarity is paramount to ensure the intended regularity is well understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needs to be consistent

Focuses on the consistency aspect rather than strict regularity.

should be routine

Emphasizes the habitual nature of the action.

has to be periodic

Replaces 'regular' with 'periodic', suggesting intervals.

is required to be uniform

Highlights the need for uniformity rather than just regularity.

is essential to be systematic

Focuses on the systematic approach.

ought to be standardized

Emphasizes adherence to a standard.

should maintain a steady pace

Emphasizes maintaining a consistent speed or rate.

needs to occur at set intervals

Specifies that occurrences should happen at predetermined times.

has to happen frequently

Stresses the importance of high occurrence.

is expected to recur predictably

Focuses on the predictable nature of the recurrence.

FAQs

How can I use "must be regular" in a sentence?

The phrase "must be regular" is used to describe something that should happen consistently or follow a standard pattern. For example, "Maintenance checks "must be regular" to ensure safety."

What are some alternatives to "must be regular"?

You can use alternatives like "needs to be consistent", "should be routine", or "has to be periodic" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "must be regularly" instead of "must be regular"?

While grammatically possible, "must be regularly" is less common and often sounds awkward. It's usually better to rephrase the sentence for clarity. For example, instead of "Payments must be regularly made" say "Payments must be made regularly".

In what situations is it most appropriate to use the phrase "must be regular"?

This phrase is appropriate when emphasizing the necessity of consistent action or adherence to a specific schedule or standard. It's suitable for instructions, rules, or recommendations where consistency is crucial.