procedural formality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "procedural formality" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a process or procedure that is generally followed, but may seem unnecessary or superfluous. For example, "The organization was able to move past the procedural formalities and focus on the key objectives of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Second, class arbitration requires procedural formality.

Harvard University

The clear inference, it will be argued, is that this shows the Council was to exercise a deliberative role on that issue, ie to determine what it is necessary to secure international peace and security; (iii) any other construction reduces the role of the Council discussion under OP12 to a procedural formality.

The Guardian

Though full disclosure of study details by researchers and complete understanding by potential participants may not be attainable, informed consent should not be viewed as a procedural formality that aims to comply with institutional rules.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

"Instead of directly asking Congress for authorization to break into computers, the Justice Department is now trying to quietly circumvent the legislative process by pushing for a change in court rules, pretending that its government hacking proposal is a mere procedural formality rather than the massive change to the law that it really is," said Kevin Bankston, director of OTI.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Minor, everyday violations were dealt with expeditiously by police officers and, if needed, by police courts that operated with very few procedural formalities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"She wasn't included in the list for the exchange … a trial is likely in order to observe all procedural formalities," Savchenko's lawyer, Mark Feigin, told Interfax news agency.

The Guardian

Had he founded the company in India, he said, there would have been mounds of paperwork and procedural formalities.

Vice

Human Rights Watch also found that the police presented cases to prosecutors for warrants that were so inadequately investigated that prosecutors had little choice but to refuse them and that procedural formalities were used to close cases with only minimal investigation.

Huffington Post

Long dark corridors, harsh faces of people in uniform, procedural formalities, rough wardens and supervisors – all these create an alien and hostile atmosphere for any child.

Unicef

At their most basic, the terms the rule of law, due process, procedural justice, legal formality, procedural rationality, justice as regularity, all refer to the idea that law should meet certain procedural requirements so that the individual is enabled to obey it.

SEP

Kahle is a challenge to Congress's removal from the copyright law of our former system of copyright "formalities" -- i.e., the system of procedural requirements (requirements that governed U.S. copyright for nearly 200 years) that defined the steps authors had to take to claim and then maintain copyright.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "procedural formality" when you want to downplay the significance of a step or process, suggesting it's more about adhering to rules than achieving a tangible outcome. It's effective in contexts where efficiency or practicality is being weighed against protocol.

Common error

Avoid using "procedural formality" when the procedure is genuinely important or critical to the process's success. This phrase can imply that the step is unnecessary, which may not be the intended message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "procedural formality" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object. It describes a process or step that is considered a requirement or convention, but may lack substantive impact. As Ludwig AI states, it refers to a process or procedure that is generally followed, but may seem unnecessary or superfluous.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

12.5%

Encyclopedias

12.5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "procedural formality" is a noun phrase denoting a process or step that is seen as routine or obligatory, often implying it's more about adhering to rules than achieving a practical outcome. Ludwig AI confirms this by defining it as a process or procedure that is generally followed, but may seem unnecessary or superfluous. It's grammatically correct but relatively rare, appearing across various contexts such as news, academia, business, science, and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, consider the potential implication that the procedure is not entirely essential, and choose alternative phrasing like "routine procedure" or "standard protocol" if a more neutral tone is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

routine procedure

Focuses on the standardized nature of the process, emphasizing predictability.

standard protocol

Highlights the prescribed set of rules and actions that must be followed.

customary process

Emphasizes that the process is based on established practice and tradition.

regulatory compliance

Directly addresses the need to adhere to external rules and regulations.

administrative requirement

Focuses on the bureaucratic aspect of the process, stressing its necessity for governance.

established practice

Underscores that the process is well-known and consistently applied.

prescribed method

Highlights that the process is officially recommended or mandated.

required procedure

Directly indicates that the process is mandatory and cannot be skipped.

official channels

Refers to the formal pathways and procedures established for communication or action.

due process

Highlights the legal and ethical requirements that must be followed in legal or administrative proceedings.

FAQs

How can "procedural formality" be used in a sentence?

You might say, "Completing the form was just a "procedural formality" before we could start the project" to imply it was a required but perhaps tedious step.

What does "procedural formality" imply?

It often suggests that a step or process is more about following rules than serving a practical purpose. It can imply that the step is somewhat unnecessary or a mere obligation.

Are there situations where "procedural formality" is not appropriate?

Yes, avoid using "procedural formality" when the procedure is essential or critical to the process's success. Using it inappropriately could undermine the perceived importance of the step.

What are some similar phrases to "procedural formality"?

Alternatives include "standard protocol", "routine procedure", or "administrative requirement", each conveying a slightly different nuance regarding the process's nature and importance.