rig

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "rig" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean "arrange, fix, or manipulate something." For example, "I had to rig the washing line to keep my clothes from blowing away in the wind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At the time, OGN was bidding for a lucrative contract to build an oil rig component for Maersk.

The Guardian

And the fact that, a few years after that, he'd blow up his evil dad on an oil rig the same day that an entire American city was destroyed by a nuclear blast cheapened it irreparably.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The book – Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt – has argued that traders can rig markets by executing their business more quickly than others.

The Guardian - Business

Alexander Temerko, the Ukrainian-born chairman of the Newcastle-based Offshore Group Newcastle (OGN), an energy services group that builds foundations for windfarms and oil rig platforms, said the group mainly discussed how to make Britain a better place.

The Guardian

The boys now know why it's important to change the oil filter on an engine, how to rig a winch line, how to use sand ladders to get a vehicle moving again.

The Guardian - Travel

Tory cabinet ministers and their advisers tried to rig the findings of the biggest-ever Whitehall investigation into EU powers by removing evidence that cast Brussels and the European project in a favourable light, according to a Liberal Democrat minister.

The Guardian

You won't see these artists blogging about the private corporate gigs they take for $10 million a pop so they can afford to bring the high-tech, holographic stage rig they desire on their next tour.

The Guardian - Opinion

The claim was made at the trial of Tom Hayes, 35, a dealer in Japanese yen derivatives at the Swiss bank UBS and then the US firm Citigroup, where the prosecution claim he earned £4.8m over a four-year period after attempting to rig Libor – the London interbank offered rate – on an almost daily basis.

The Guardian - Business

The peaceful protest in September 2013 outside the new Arctic Prirazlomnaya oil rig, which Greenpeace believes to be unprepared for an oil spill, resulted in the arrest of 30 members, dubbed the 'Arctic 30', as Russian soldiers stormed the group's vessel.

The Guardian

The Arctic 30 were arrested after protesting at an oil rig in international waters off the coast of Russia in September and face criminal charges.

The Guardian

Every day the team had to rig up ropes to scale a steep rock bluff and then hike all the necessary tools, water and plaster up the rest of the ridge.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the word "rig", ensure the context clearly indicates the act of manipulation or dishonest arrangement. Avoid ambiguity by providing sufficient detail about what is being rigged and the intended outcome.

Common error

Be careful when using "rig" in contexts where manipulation isn't intended. Choose a more neutral word like "arrange" or "set up" to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The word "rig" functions primarily as a verb, signifying the act of manipulating or dishonestly arranging something, as illustrated by Ludwig's examples of rigging elections or markets. It can also function as a noun, referring to equipment or apparatus.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "rig" is a versatile term with both neutral and negative connotations, frequently used to describe manipulation or dishonest arrangements. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English, highlighting its primary function as a verb to convey the act of influencing or controlling something deceptively. While often encountered in news and media, its presence in formal business and scientific contexts suggests a relatively neutral register. Understanding the context is crucial to discerning whether "rig" implies manipulation or simply equipping something. When crafting your writing, consider alternatives like "manipulate" or "arrange fraudulently" to achieve greater precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrange fraudulently

Directly states the dishonest arrangement of something.

influence improperly

Highlights using undue influence to affect an outcome.

manipulate

Focuses on controlling something, often implying skill or deception.

falsify

Focuses on altering information to deceive.

fix

Highlights the act of predetermining an outcome, usually dishonestly.

tamper with

Emphasizes unauthorized or illicit alteration.

set up

Implies arranging or preparing something, sometimes with a negative connotation.

doctor

Suggests altering something, often to make it appear better or different than it is.

engineer

Implies skillfully arranging something, potentially with manipulative intent.

gerrymander

Specifically refers to manipulating electoral district boundaries for political gain.

FAQs

How can I use "rig" in a sentence?

You can use "rig" to describe manipulating an outcome, as in, "They tried to "rig the election"" or to describe equipping something, as in "The sailors had to "rig the sails" before setting off.".

What are some alternatives to the word "rig"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "manipulate", "fix", or "arrange fraudulently".

Is it always negative to use the word "rig"?

While "rig" often carries a negative connotation, implying manipulation or dishonesty, it can also refer to simply equipping or preparing something. The context is key to determining the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "rig" and "manipulate"?

"Rig" often implies a more specific action of arranging or influencing something dishonestly, whereas "manipulate" is a broader term that can refer to skillfully handling or controlling something, not always with negative intentions.