rules states that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rules states that" is not correct in English.
It should be "rules state that" since "rules" is plural. You can use it when referring to specific regulations or guidelines that are established by a set of rules. Example: "The rules state that all participants must arrive on time to the event."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Under the contest rules, states that adopted high standards stood the best chance of winning.

The Washington Post

The N.C.A.A. said that it found no evidence that he had taken any money, but it imposed the penalty because one of its rules states that players can't sign autographs for people who are going to try to make money from their signature, even if they reap no reward themselves.

The New York Times

The Nobel Committee rules states that members of national assemblies and governments are able to make nominations for the prize.

Independent

Nobel committee rules states that members of national assemblies and governments are able to make nominations for the prize.

The Guardian

An I.R.S. briefing paper on the new rules states that in 1999 the Treasury lost $8.5 billion to $9.9 billion by paying earned-income tax credits to filers who should not have received them.

The New York Times

One exception in the military rules states that confidentiality can be breached without a patient's consent when "federal law, state law or service regulation imposes a duty to report information".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Although both dates place James within the age limit for the competition, the rules state that both dates must match.

BBC

The mirror rule states that when we observe a behaviour, we tend to mimic it.

The Guardian - Books

His rule states that, in any field, 80% of the effect can be achieved with 20% of the effort.

The Guardian

The decision rule states that, (22).

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

The only consistent rule states that Calvinball may never be played with the same rules twice.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure subject-verb agreement. Since "rules" is plural, use "rules state that" instead of the incorrect "rules states that".

Common error

A common mistake is using a singular verb form with a plural subject. Double-check that plural nouns like "rules", "guidelines", or "regulations" are paired with the plural verb form "state" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rules states that" is intended to function as a statement of a regulation or guideline. However, the construction is grammatically incorrect, as Ludwig AI explains, because the plural subject "rules" requires the plural verb form "state".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rules states that" is a grammatically incorrect construction. As Ludwig AI emphasizes, the plural subject "rules" requires the plural verb "state". Therefore, the correct phrasing is ""rules state that"". This grammatical error can undermine the credibility of your writing, especially in professional or academic contexts. Alternatives include "rules stipulate that", "rules provide that", or "the regulation states that", but ensuring subject-verb agreement is key for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rules stipulate that

Replaces "states" with "stipulate", offering a more formal tone but conveying the same meaning regarding what rules dictate.

rules provide that

Uses "provide" instead of "state", suggesting that the rules offer a specific provision or allowance.

rules dictate that

Employs "dictate" to emphasize the authoritative nature of the rules and their binding power.

rules require that

Substitutes "state" with "require", focusing on the mandatory aspect of the rules.

rules specify that

Replaces "state" with "specify", highlighting that the rules are detailed and precise about what is expected.

rules outline that

Uses "outline" to suggest that the rules provide a general overview or framework.

rules establish that

Replaces "state" with "establish", indicating that the rules set a precedent or foundation.

rules determine that

Employs "determine" to show that the rules lead to a particular outcome or decision.

the rule is that

Simplifies the structure to focus on a single rule, changing the verb and emphasizing the generality of the rule.

the regulation states that

Replaces "rules" with "regulation" to narrow the focus to a specific type of rule, but still maintains the core meaning.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say what rules specify?

The correct phrasing is "rules state that", as "rules" is plural and requires the plural verb form "state". For example, "The "rules state that" all participants must register before the event".

What can I say instead of "rules states that"?

Alternatives include "rules stipulate that", "rules provide that", or "the regulation states that", depending on the context. Remember that “"rules state that"” is the grammatically correct option.

Is "rules states that" grammatically correct?

No, "rules states that" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""rules state that"". The subject "rules" is plural, so it requires the plural verb form "state".

Which is correct: "rules states that" or "rules state that"?

The correct phrase is ""rules state that"". Using "states" with the plural subject "rules" is a common error in subject-verb agreement.