shall be subject

USAGE SUMMARY

"shall be subject" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
This phrase is used to indicate something is subject to certain conditions or regulations. For example, "All employees shall be subject to the company's code of conduct."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Readers of the Blog shall be subject to our Terms of Service.

The Guardian

This treaty shall be subject to ratification in accordance with the constitutional procedures of each party.

The New York Times

The copyright terms of the non-staff element shall be subject to the above Copyright terms.

The Guardian

This Agreement shall be subject to the laws of England and any dispute concerning it or its interpretation shall be decided in that jurisdiction.

The Guardian

The admission of such investment shall be subject to the laws and policies of the Contracting Party in whose territory the investment is made.

The New York Times

The Constitution states that all appeals in the Supreme Court shall be subject to "such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

No one shall be subjected to torture or degrading treatment or punishment.

The Guardian - Opinion

No Hong Kong resident shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful arrest, detention or imprisonment.

The Guardian - Opinion

(Its ninth article reads, "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile").

The New Yorker

Article 3, he explains, says that no one shall be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The Guardian

That treaty provides in Article 7 that "no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When drafting legal or formal documents, use "shall be subject" to clearly indicate that certain terms, conditions, or regulations apply. This ensures clarity and leaves no room for misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "shall be subject" in casual writing; opt for simpler phrases like "is affected by" or "depends on" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shall be subject" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating obligation or conditionality. As shown in Ludwig, it is frequently used in legal and formal contexts to establish that something is governed by specific rules or regulations. It denotes a requirement or potentiality, rather than a certainty.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "shall be subject" functions as a modal verb phrase most often found in formal contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct, frequently used to specify conditions or constraints, especially in legal and scientific documentation. While very common in formal documents, it's best to use synonyms in informal or casual communication. Given its use in a variety of media, including news outlets like The Guardian and scientific publications, understanding the function and purpose of “shall be subject” is key to proper interpretation and usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will be governed by

Replaces "shall be subject" with "will be governed by", emphasizing the rule or law that applies.

will be under the control of

Substitutes "shall be subject" with "will be under the control of", highlighting authority or supervision.

will be contingent upon

Changes "shall be subject" to "will be contingent upon", focusing on the dependency on certain conditions.

is conditional on

Substitutes "shall be subject" with "is conditional on", stressing the dependence on specific terms.

is regulated by

Replaces "shall be subject" with "is regulated by", emphasizing oversight and control.

is liable to

Alters "shall be subject" to "is liable to", underlining potential consequences or responsibilities.

falls under the purview of

Changes "shall be subject" to "falls under the purview of", accentuating jurisdiction or responsibility.

is dictated by

Replaces "shall be subject" with "is dictated by", stressing requirement.

is open to

Replaces "shall be subject" with "is open to", indicating possibility or vulnerability.

is answerable to

Alters "shall be subject" to "is answerable to", highlighting accountability and responsibility.

FAQs

How to use "shall be subject" in a sentence?

Use "shall be subject" to indicate that something is governed by or contingent upon specific rules, laws, or conditions. For example, "All data collected shall be subject to privacy regulations."

What can I say instead of "shall be subject"?

You can use alternatives like "will be governed by", "is liable to", or "is conditional on" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "shall be subject"?

"Shall be subject" is appropriate in legal, formal, and technical writing where precision and clarity are paramount. It's less suitable for informal communication.

What's the difference between "shall be subject" and "will be subject"?

"Shall be subject" is often used in legal and formal contexts to express a mandatory or obligatory condition. "Will be subject" can be used more broadly to indicate a future condition without necessarily implying obligation. Though, in modern usage, the distinction is subtle and often blurred.