on what rules

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on what rules" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about the specific rules or guidelines that govern a situation or decision. Example: "Can you clarify on what rules you based your conclusion?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

General question on what rules we have at the Guardian.

The Guardian - Opinion

Writing in The Annals of Internal Medicine, the researchers found that doctors who were asked to make conclusions based on hospital records could be wrong almost a third of the time, depending on what rules they used.

The New York Times - Health

How the election turns out will depend not on who is the better ballplayer, but on what rules wind up governing the game.

Forbes

The FCC will vote today on what rules should govern broadband providers.

Huffington Post

Shortly after the newly Democratic-controlled House was sworn in on Thursday, it held a vote on what rules it wants to play by.

Huffington Post

Decide with your friends on what rules will apply to your game.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But confirmation that young women are being operated on to comply with sport's rules on what "normal" female genitalia should look like has provoked outrage.

BBC

Click on one to see what rules are built inside a filter.

WikiHow

Similarly resourceful when it comes to releasing music on her own What Rules label, Smith prefers to work outside the constraints and timelines of larger labels.

Vice

The game eventually turned on what the officials ruled was a moment of madness from Imrie, who left Stewart writhing in pain off the ball.

BBC

While the former students have committed to nonpayment, they're trying to play by the DoE's rules for now, or at least get clarification on what those rules actually mean.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "on what rules", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific situation or game being governed. Be precise to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "on what rules" in overly broad or vague contexts. Instead of asking, "What are the general rules?" try to be specific: "On what rules is this decision based?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on what rules" functions as an interrogative prepositional phrase used to inquire about the specific regulations, guidelines, or principles that govern a particular situation, decision, or activity. As Ludwig AI shows, it's commonly used in news and media.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

29%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on what rules" serves as an interrogative phrase to inquire about the governing guidelines in a specific situation. While grammatically correct and verified by Ludwig AI, its frequency is uncommon. It appears mainly in news, media and Wiki contexts. For more formal settings, alternatives like "based on which rules" or "according to what rules" might be preferable. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and specificity in your writing. Avoid overgeneralization and be precise about the context to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

based on which rules

Replaces the preposition "on what" with "based on which", emphasizing the foundation or justification of the rules.

according to what rules

Substitutes "on what" with "according to what", highlighting the source or authority of the rules.

by what rules

Uses "by what" instead of "on what", offering a more concise way to ask about the operative rules.

under what rules

Replaces "on what" with "under what", focusing on the system or framework in which the rules apply.

on the basis of what rules

Adds "on the basis of" for a more formal and explicit inquiry about the rules' foundation.

by virtue of what rules

Emphasizes the legal or formal authority of the rules.

following what rules

Shifts the focus to adherence to the rules rather than their definition.

pursuant to what rules

A more formal and legalistic way of asking about the governing rules.

guided by what rules

Highlights the role of rules as a guiding principle.

subject to what rules

Focuses on the applicability and constraints imposed by the rules.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "on what rules" for clarity?

You can use phrases like "based on which rules", "according to what rules", or "under what rules" to provide a more specific and nuanced inquiry about the governing guidelines.

Is "on what rules" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "on what rules" can be replaced with more formal alternatives like "pursuant to what rules" or "by virtue of what rules" in formal contexts.

What's the difference between "on what rules" and "based on what rules"?

"Based on what rules" emphasizes the foundation or justification of the rules, while "on what rules" is a more general inquiry about the governing principles.

Can I use "on what rules" when discussing informal games or agreements?

Yes, "on what rules" is suitable for informal contexts. For example, "Let's decide on what rules will apply to our game of cards."