self-regulate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "self-regulate" is correct and is used in written English.
You can use it when describing a process or system that manages and maintains itself, or an organism or individual that has control over a particular behaviour. Example sentence: The human body is capable of self-regulating its temperature.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

"If and when financial institutions fail to self-regulate, governmental regulators need to step in.

Huffington Post

There are ulterior motives behind the industry's move to self-regulate, with the specter of federal and state regulation looming.

TechCrunch

encouraging businesses in the market to self-regulate.

The Guardian - Money

"You can self-regulate a little, too," Mr. Feinberg added.

The New York Times

What steps are they taking to self-regulate?

The Guardian

The regime is unlikely to self-regulate and reform.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

So they are pushing for the market to self regulate itself.

The Guardian - Money

Late last year, Moffatt suggested that Facebook's efforts to self regulate could boost the social giant's profits.

TechCrunch

The industry is definitely making big changes to self regulate around social gaming offer scams (complete background here, with updates).

TechCrunch

"Developers have said to me, 'We will not self regulate.

Huffington Post

But more broadly, PHMSA's investigation demonstrates the folly of relying on pipeline operators to self regulate.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this term when you want to emphasize that a system or person is functioning without the need for external intervention or oversight.

Common error

Writers frequently write 'self regulate' as two separate words. While understandable, the hyphenated form is the grammatically correct way to link the prefix to the verb in formal English.

Linguistic Context

As noted by Ludwig, "self-regulate" serves as a hyphenated compound verb. It is used to describe the action of an entity (individual, organism or organization) managing its own functions or behavior without external compulsion. In many instances found in the search data, it acts as an intransitive verb, though it can also take an object.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "self-regulate" is a highly versatile and correct compound verb widely utilized across professional and scientific disciplines. According to Ludwig AI, it is most effectively used when discussing systems or individuals that maintain order or control internally. Whether you are writing about economic markets, childhood development or biological homeostasis, "self-regulate" conveys a sense of sophisticated autonomy. Remember that the hyphen is essential for standard formal writing. Given its high frequency in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, it is a reliable choice for any writer looking to describe autonomous management processes accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

self-govern

Focuses more on the political or organizational autonomy of an entity

auto-regulate

More common in technical, mechanical or biological contexts

exercise self-control

Used specifically for individual human behavior and willpower

self-manage

Commonly used in workplace or productivity contexts

police itself

Often used for industries or groups monitoring their own ethical standards

self-adjust

Focuses on the adaptation to external changes rather than general oversight

manage itself

A simpler, more general alternative suitable for casual contexts

operate autonomously

Broadens the scope to include any independent operation

monitor oneself

Emphasizes the act of observation rather than the corrective action

maintain homeostasis

A highly specific scientific term for biological self-regulation

FAQs

How to use self-regulate in a sentence?

You can use "self-regulate" to describe an entity's internal control, such as: 'The industry has failed to "self-regulate" effectively' or 'Children need to learn how to manage their emotions and "self-regulate"'.

What can I say instead of self-regulate?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "self-govern", "self-manage" or "exercise self-control".

Is it self-regulate or self regulate?

The correct spelling in standard written English is "self-regulate" with a hyphen. Using it without a hyphen is considered a common informal mistake.

What is the difference between self-regulate and self-control?

While related, "self-control" is usually a noun referring to the ability to inhibit impulses, whereas "self-regulate" is a verb describing the broader process of maintaining stability or managing behavior.