regulates

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'regulates' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is usually used as a verb and means to control or maintain according to a set of rules or laws. Example: The government regulates the sale of alcohol to minors to ensure their safety and well-being.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or an unacceptable commodification of the blessing of a child?In this section Anglo-Saxon attitudes Playing God Scarcely a cloth cap in sight Who regulates the regulators?

The Economist

The hand of history, revisited Correction: Britain and America Reprints Related items Credit crisis: Fixing financeApr 3rd 2008 Electricity: Green and blackApr 3rd 2008 Northern Rock: Who regulates the regulators?Mar 27th 2008Northern Rock's rush to write risky mortgages also embraced the buy-to-let market.

The Economist

The Drinking Water Inspectorate regulates mains water (99.97% of samples pass the strict standards) while local authorities watch over bottled water plants.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The deaths of the patients were referred to at a hearing in August of the disciplinary committee of the General Dental Council (GDC), which regulates dentists.

The Guardian

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) regulates all businesses supplying temporary workers for gathering shellfish.

The Guardian - Opinion

One was Hyppönen's highlighting of an exchange that took place in the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court (Fisa), which supposedly regulates and oversees covert surveillance by US intelligence agencies.

The Guardian - Tech

It regulates everything and makes people behave in a decent and appropriate way to each other.

The Guardian - Books

The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates NHS performance and has had MK General under scrutiny for a while, piled in to condemn the hospital's failure to improve sufficiently since a similar incident in 2007.

The Guardian

Snowden says: "The conversation occurring today will determine the amount of trust we can place both in the technology that surrounds us and the government that regulates it.

The Guardian

NHS foundation trusts, which are meant to be strong performers financially, ended the year £349m in the red – the first time they are in deficit at the end of a year – according to figures released by Monitor, which regulates the sector.

The Guardian

The NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA), which regulates the trusts, blamed the grim picture on "an unplanned growth in demand for care in a hospital setting, particularly in urgent and emergency care; a significant increase in the use of agency and contract staff; [and] failure to deliver the levels of cost improvement schemes planned at the start of the financial year".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about systems, use "regulates" to denote a structured, rule-based control. For example, "The central bank "regulates" monetary policy".

Common error

Avoid using passive constructions when "regulates" can be more directly and powerfully expressed in the active voice. Instead of "The industry is "regulated" by the government", opt for "The government "regulates" the industry".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "regulates" is as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies the action of controlling or maintaining something according to rules or laws. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing how entities like government agencies or systems manage various aspects of society and nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "regulates" is a grammatically correct and very common verb used to describe the act of controlling or governing something according to rules or laws. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it often appears in news and media, as well as formal and business contexts. Best practice involves using "regulates" in the active voice to create direct and powerful statements. Common errors include overuse of passive constructions. Synonyms include "governs" and "controls", but each conveys a subtly different nuance. The word itself has a neutral register, so it is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

governs

Implies a broader scope of control, often associated with leadership or political power.

controls

Suggests a more direct and potentially forceful method of influence.

manages

Focuses on the practical aspects of overseeing and directing operations.

oversees

Highlights the supervisory aspect of ensuring things are done correctly.

administers

Implies a formal and structured approach to managing a system or organization.

supervises

Similar to oversees but can imply more direct involvement in day-to-day activities.

directs

Suggests providing guidance and instructions to achieve a specific goal.

dictates

Emphasizes the power to impose rules or decisions.

legislates

Concerns law-making and establishing formal regulations.

standardizes

Focuses on establishing consistent standards and procedures.

FAQs

How to use "regulates" in a sentence?

Use "regulates" to describe how an entity, such as a government or organization, controls or governs something according to rules or laws. For example, "The Environmental Protection Agency "regulates" air quality".

What are some synonyms for "regulates"?

Some synonyms for "regulates" include "governs", "controls", and "manages", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "regulates" or "controls"?

The choice between "regulates" and "controls" depends on the nuance you want to convey. "Regulates" often implies a formal, rule-based approach, while "controls" can suggest a more direct or forceful influence.

What does it mean when something "regulates" another thing?

When something "regulates" another thing, it means that it controls or adjusts it in order to maintain a desired state or level. For example, "The thermostat "regulates" the temperature in the room".