obligatory subject

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obligatory subject" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to education or curriculum, where a subject is required for students to take. Example: "In our program, mathematics is an obligatory subject that all students must complete to graduate."

✓ Grammatically correct

Education

Linguistics

Law

Photography

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In the 1980s the Catholic schools, most of which received substantial subsidies from the state, were subjected to closer government control, and religious education was removed as an obligatory subject.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For example, a formula representing the structure of a clause composed of an obligatory subject tagmeme, an obligatory predicate tagmeme, and an optional object tagmeme might be Cl = + S:n + P:v ± O:n (in which Cl stands for a clause of a certain type and n and v stand for the classes of nouns and verbs, respectively).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Positivism, however, did help in consolidating the study of philosophy at both the higher level (through the Instituto Pedagógico at the Universidad de Chile), and at secondary schools, where it was an obligatory subject of study.

SEP

Another effect was to draw academic attention to the question of fisheries management, to the extent that it became almost an obligatory subject for universities in countries with marine fisheries.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Classic emergency medicine skills are frequently offered in the framework of obligatory subjects in the STCs; however, the number of skills offered to be trained voluntarily is low.

BMC Medical Education

In the area of general emergency medicine skills, 23 institutions indicated they offer, for example, training for advanced life support (according to the European Resuscitation Council, ERC) and the use of automatic defibrillators in the STC in the frame work of the obligatory subjects.

BMC Medical Education

Medical universities/medical faculties participating in this collection of data could choose four answers (multiple responses were possible): a) skill is taught in the STC in the frame work of obligatory subjects, b) skill can voluntarily be trained by students in the STC, c) the establishment of appropriate training possibilities is being planned, and d) the skill is taught outside the STC.

BMC Medical Education

21 universities/faculties indicate that the placement of a peripheral venous access, stabilization of the cervical spine and the interpretation of an emergency ECG's (including STEMI/NSTEMI) are taught in the STCs within the framework of the obligatory subjects.

BMC Medical Education

I recognized it immediately — it is an obligatory photographic subject of the Plath biographies, and its oval blue ceramic plaque reading "William Butler Yeats, 1865-1939, Irish poet and dramatist, lived here" is a compulsively mentioned (and yet oddly irrelevant) detail.

The New Yorker

One proposal is that the parameter is set by default to 'Subject Obligatory' and that hearing a subjectless sentence causes it to be set to 'Subject Optional.' Since children learning Spanish frequently hear subjectless sentences, whereas those learning English do not, the parameter setting is switched in the Spanish learner, but remains set at the default for the English learner.

SEP

Although the religion of the prince's choice was thus made obligatory for his subjects, those who adhered to the other church could sell their property and migrate to a territory where that denomination was recognized.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to subjects that are part of a curriculum, ensure that "obligatory" accurately conveys the sense of a mandatory requirement, as opposed to merely recommended or suggested material.

Common error

Avoid using "obligatory" when you mean something is merely recommended or suggested. "Obligatory" implies a strict requirement that must be met, whereas "optional" means it's up to individual choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obligatory subject" functions as a noun phrase, where "obligatory" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "subject". It describes a subject that is required or mandatory, as seen in the Ludwig examples where it denotes a required course of study.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "obligatory subject" is grammatically sound and used to denote a required or mandatory topic, especially within educational or regulatory frameworks. It’s considered correct by Ludwig and maintains a neutral to formal tone. While not exceedingly common, the phrase finds usage across a range of contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedias. When writing, ensure "obligatory" is used to convey an actual requirement rather than a mere suggestion. Consider alternatives like "required subject" or "mandatory subject" to maintain clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

required subject

Emphasizes the necessity of the subject being part of a curriculum or set of requirements. It is directly related to the idea of needing to be taken or completed.

mandatory subject

Highlights the compulsory nature of the subject, focusing on the fact that it must be taken. It is a very close synonym.

compulsory subject

Indicates that the subject is enforced or required by rule or law, which is similar to "obligatory" but with a stronger sense of enforcement.

prescribed subject

Suggests the subject is officially recommended or stipulated, highlighting an external authority dictating its inclusion.

essential subject

Focuses on the crucial or indispensable nature of the subject, emphasizing its importance rather than its requirement status.

requisite subject

A more formal way of saying required, indicating that the subject is a necessary condition.

core subject

Indicates that the subject is central and fundamental to a specific field of study or curriculum.

mandatory course

Shifts the focus slightly from the subject itself to the course structure, emphasizing the compulsory nature of the class.

required course

Similar to 'mandatory course', but uses 'required' instead, highlighting the necessity of taking the course.

necessary subject

Stresses the subject's importance and indispensability for a specific purpose or field of study.

FAQs

What is an example of how to use "obligatory subject" in a sentence?

An example is: "In our program, mathematics is an obligatory subject that all students must complete to graduate."

What can I say instead of "obligatory subject"?

You can use alternatives like "required subject", "mandatory subject", or "compulsory subject" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "obligatory subject" in formal writing?

Yes, "obligatory subject" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing academic requirements or regulations. However, ensure the context clearly indicates a mandatory rather than suggested topic.

What's the difference between "obligatory subject" and "elective subject"?

"Obligatory subject" refers to a subject that must be taken, while "elective subject" refers to a subject that students can choose to take.