regulate on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "regulate on" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "regulate" followed by the object without the preposition "on." Example: "The government aims to regulate the financial sector to ensure stability."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Third, we also noticed that PAGs are more likely to overlap with each other than to regulate on one another.

Bioinformatics

During the federal election, Blair said he thought regulating weed could work the same way as liquor: "We regulate on where it can be used, when it can be used".

Vice

Labour had 13 years to regulate on this but chose not to.

The Guardian

But, he said, the power to regulate on this front must be grounded in a grant of authority from Congress.

The New York Times

Walport also says: It makes much more logical sense to regulate on a product-by-product basis: technologies are neither universally safe, nor universally unsafe.

The Guardian

I think that we must have laws to regulate on these things, and the way to work it out is through the tax system".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Unsurprisingly, the National Pork Producers Council, according to the Pork Network blog, said "it would set a dangerous precedent for allowing federal bureaucrats to regulate on-farm production practices".

The New York Times

Some provinces are also involved in funding on-reserve programs12 and Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and British Columbia regulate on-reserve childcare programs (Senate, 2009, p.58).

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

The most severe punishment -- a worldwide ban of a company -- has been used once since the Pentagon began regulating on-base insurance sales, against Academy Life Insurance Company in 1998.

The New York Times

The US Department of Transportation DOTT) regulates on-the-job alcohol use by operators of certain categories of commercial transport.

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Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, use "regulate" followed directly by the object of regulation (e.g. "regulate the industry").

Common error

Avoid using "regulate on" as it's often grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is to omit "on" and directly follow "regulate" with the noun you're regulating. For example, instead of "regulate on prices", say "regulate prices".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "regulate on", although found in various sources, often functions incorrectly as it typically requires only the verb regulate followed by a direct object. As Ludwig AI explains, standard English usage favors omitting the preposition "on".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "regulate on" appears in various contexts, it's frequently grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI notes, the standard English usage is to simply use the verb regulate followed by the object without the preposition "on". This aims to establish control or governance over something based on rules or laws, and is used in formal settings such as news and scientific contexts. Alternatives like "control", "govern", or "oversee" may be more appropriate, depending on the specific intent. Remember to avoid using "regulate on" in favor of the direct construction for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

control

Focuses on the general act of maintaining power or influence over something.

legislate

Direct action of creating laws or rules.

oversee

Suggests a supervisory role in ensuring compliance and proper function.

govern

Implies broader administrative and policy-making functions.

administer

Focuses on the practical application and management of regulations.

manage

Indicates handling or directing resources and actions efficiently.

standardize

Highlights the act of setting and enforcing uniform standards.

supervise

Implies direct oversight and guidance to ensure proper execution.

police

Emphasizes enforcing rules and maintaining order within a specific area.

dictate

Suggests a forceful and authoritative way of setting rules or terms.

FAQs

How to use regulate in a sentence?

Use "regulate" followed by the object you're controlling, such as "The government aims to regulate the banking sector".

What can I say instead of "regulate on"?

Consider alternatives like "control", "govern", or "oversee" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "regulate on prices" or "regulate prices"?

The grammatically correct phrase is "regulate prices". The preposition "on" is typically unnecessary and makes the sentence less clear.

Which is more appropriate, to regulate or to "legislate"?

The choice depends on the context; "regulate" implies controlling existing activities, while "legislate" refers to making new laws or rules.