police them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "police them" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one is referring to monitoring or enforcing rules or laws on a group of people or entities. Example: "The community leaders decided to police them more closely to ensure compliance with the new regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

How do you police them all?

The New York Times

It's too expensive to police them.

The New York Times - Arts

But it does not police them either.

The New York Times

All should commit to them, and agree to police them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Collapse legitimised these mafias but did not police them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Regulators would be able to police them, but there would be no ongoing investor oversight.

The New York Times

Internet connections in poor and ill-run countries are improving faster than the authorities there can police them.

The Economist

The balance of power is now shifting back from risk-takers to those who police them internally.

The Economist

They spent enormous amounts of time and money capturing the regulators who were supposed to police them.

The New York Times

The state has no option but to reject and police them.

The Guardian - Opinion

We need to find those limits, and look to the regulatory regime to police them".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "police them", ensure the context is clear about who is doing the policing and what standards or laws they are enforcing. Avoid vagueness.

Common error

Avoid using "police them" without specifying the governing rules or standards. It is important to clarify the framework for the policing action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "police them" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of monitoring and enforcing rules, laws, or standards on a particular group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "police them" is a commonly used verb phrase indicating the act of monitoring and enforcing rules or laws on a group. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. While versatile, it's crucial to provide context about the policing entity and the rules being enforced. Alternatives like "regulate them", "monitor their actions", and "supervise their activities" offer nuanced substitutes depending on the desired emphasis. Most examples come from News & Media sources, revealing a neutral register suitable for diverse writing contexts. Always specify the 'rules' when using this phrase for clarity. Therefore, the user should be aware that, based on the aim of the sentence, a more formal alternative could exist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enforce rules upon them

Stresses the application of existing regulations, focusing on compliance and consequences.

regulate them

Focuses on establishing and enforcing rules or standards, shifting from direct oversight to a systemic approach.

hold them accountable

Highlights the importance of responsibility for their actions, emphasizing consequences for failures.

monitor their actions

Emphasizes observation and tracking of behavior, suggesting a more passive role than active enforcement.

supervise their activities

Highlights the oversight of ongoing actions, implying guidance and control over a process.

ensure their compliance

Focuses on making certain that they are following the rules, indicating a proactive approach to regulation.

oversee their conduct

Suggests a broader responsibility for behavior, including ethical and professional standards.

administer controls over them

Suggests that controls are already in place. Controls are managed and applied to "them".

keep them in check

Implies maintaining control and preventing undesirable behavior, often through informal means.

watch over them

Conveys a sense of guardianship and protection, implying a caring or responsible oversight role.

FAQs

How can I use "police them" in a sentence?

The phrase "police them" is used to describe the act of monitoring and enforcing rules or laws within a group or system. For example, "Regulators need to "police them" to prevent market manipulation".

What are some alternatives to "police them"?

Alternatives include "regulate them", "monitor their actions", or "supervise their activities", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "police them" in writing?

Use "police them" when you want to emphasize the enforcement aspect of maintaining order or adherence to rules. It's appropriate when discussing oversight and corrective actions.

Is "police them" formal or informal language?

The phrase "police them" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, consider the audience and choose a more formal alternative like "oversee" or "regulate" for highly professional settings.