partially comply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "partially comply" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone or something meets some, but not all, of the requirements or conditions set forth. Example: "The contractor was able to partially comply with the safety regulations, but several key standards were still unmet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

H. Holder Jr. said Thursday that he was willing to partially comply with a subpoena for documents from the Justice Department about a gun-trafficking operation known as "Fast and Furious".

The New York Times

Google did partially comply with a Russian request to remove 160 YouTube videos, by blocking access to them in Russia.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The percentage of those U.S. demands that were "fully or partially complied with" by Google was also by far the highest — 90 percent.

The New York Times

PAGE A10 PARTIAL COMPLIANCE BY RUSSIA European leaders confirmed that Russia had met a deadline to withdraw troops from buffer zones outside the breakaway enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, though the French foreign minister said Russia had only "partially complied" with a European-brokered peace accord.

The New York Times

Google either fully or partially complied with 90percentt of those requests, according to the report, which covered 16,281 individuals.

TechCrunch

Although Microsoft partially complied by providing some metadata and "non‐content information" about the customer, it argued that the emails themselves were stored in Ireland, and were therefore not subject to a warrant issued by a U.S. court.

TechCrunch

A newly appointed special prosecutor reordered the subpoena, which Nixon only partially complied with.

Huffington Post

The decision by the FDA only partially complies with a ruling handed down by a federal judge in early April, which instructed the FDA to lift all age restrictions on Plan B and make it available to everyone on pharmacy shelves.

Huffington Post

However, both scenarios comply only partially with the in vivo findings outlined above [10].

Plosone

However, results concerning the monkeys complied partially with this theory, since negative calls were processed by the right side of the brain, while no lateralisation was obtained with the positive stimuli.

Plosone

It must also be noted, however, that the fact that a minority of patients did not comply or complied only partially indicates that ASICA application will not compel all patients to conduct regular TSSEs or might require tailoring for some patients.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "partially comply", specify the areas or aspects where compliance is complete versus those where it is lacking to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "partially comply" when the level of compliance is minimal or insignificant. Use more accurate phrasing like "marginally comply" or "barely comply" in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partially comply" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a verb, indicating the extent to which an action adheres to a given requirement or standard. Ludwig examples demonstrate how this phrase is used to describe situations where adherence is incomplete or limited, like in the sentence "Google did partially comply with a Russian request".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "partially comply" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that an action or entity adheres only in part to a requirement or rule. According to Ludwig, this phrase is generally used in neutral contexts, spanning news and media as well as scientific domains. While "partially comply" is not frequently encountered, understanding its implications and usage is critical for precision in communication, especially in legal or regulatory discussions. Alternatives like "partially adhere" and "partially fulfill" can offer similar but nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partially adhere

Emphasizes a degree of adherence, but not complete or total.

partially meet

Suggests a partial fulfillment of expectations or needs.

partly conform

Highlights a partial level of agreement or alignment.

partially fulfill

Focuses on the incomplete completion of a requirement or obligation.

partially satisfy

Indicates that some, but not all, conditions are met.

comply in part

Expresses the idea of compliance being segmented or limited.

substantially comply

Implies a significant degree of compliance, even if not perfect.

incompletely comply

Directly states that compliance is not whole or finished.

comply to some extent

Indicates a certain level of compliance without specifying the exact degree.

comply within limits

Stresses that compliance is only valid or possible under certain restrictions.

FAQs

What does "partially comply" mean?

The phrase "partially comply" means to adhere to a rule, request, or law only in some aspects or to a limited degree. It signifies that the action taken does not fully meet the required standards or expectations.

How can I use "partially comply" in a sentence?

You can use "partially comply" to describe situations where there's incomplete adherence. For example, "The company chose to "partially comply" with the regulations, addressing only the most critical requirements."

What are some alternatives to "partially comply"?

Alternatives include "partially adhere", "partly conform", or "partially fulfill". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to "fully comply" or "partially comply"?

"Fully comply" indicates complete adherence, while "partially comply" suggests incomplete adherence. Whether one is "better" depends on the context and goals. Full compliance is often legally or ethically preferable, but partial compliance may be a temporary or strategic decision.