specified circumstances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "specified circumstances" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to particular conditions or situations that have been clearly defined or outlined. Example: "The policy will only apply under specified circumstances, such as during a natural disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

"The Supreme Court long ago prohibited competing providers from jointly contracting to provide their services, except in specified circumstances".

The New York Times - Health

"These arrangements allow the company to require the repayment of amounts of bonus in certain specified circumstances, including a material misstatement of the group's financial position," the company said.

The Guardian

In Texas, murder is punishable by death only if the killing occurred under certain specified circumstances, including the murder of a police officer or firefighter in the line of duty; murdering for money or paying someone else to do so, and murdering a child under 6 years of age.

The New York Times

Section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 created police powers, exercisable in specified circumstances, to disperse groups of two or more persons in a public place, and to remove under-16-year-olds to their place of residence between the hours of 9pm and 6am.

The Guardian - Opinion

However it is established that near-resonant response can indeed occur under certain specified circumstances involving finite rib impedance.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

This indicates that more replications are necessary to estimate the lag phase of the mould in the specified circumstances.

Food Microbiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

This clearly shows that the relation indicated by the arrow diacritic is 'pre-emptive': given the specified circumstance, the privilege of free choice is pre-empted from the starting option, which must combine with the option indicated by the second pair part of the diacritic (and whatever other relations that might entail).

Functional Linguistics

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., writing for the majority in the 6-to-3 decision, said that "custody" for these purposes "is a term of art that specifies circumstances that are thought generally to present a serious danger of coercion".

The New York Times

It remained determined to keep monetary policy as loose as was necessary and "to take further decisive action if required".Mr Draghi specified two circumstances that would prompt the council to act: an unwarranted tightening in money-market rates or a deterioration in the medium-term inflation outlook.

The Economist

She takes a dim view of American military intervention, particularly for humanitarian reasons, but declines to specify the circumstances in which the use of force would be justified.

The New York Times

Gen. Robert Mood, commander of the 300-member cease-fire monitor group, did not specify the circumstances behind the apparent extrajudicial executions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "specified circumstances", ensure that the circumstances have indeed been clearly defined elsewhere in the text or are commonly understood within the relevant field.

Common error

Avoid using "specified circumstances" if the context is still unclear. Clearly define or reference where the circumstances are specified to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "specified circumstances" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an object of a preposition or as a complement within a clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable. It indicates that certain conditions or situations have been clearly defined or outlined.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

26%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "specified circumstances" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to denote clearly defined conditions or situations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for limiting the applicability of a statement or policy. The phrase is frequently encountered in scientific and news media contexts. To ensure effective communication, define those conditions explicitly. While alternatives like "defined conditions" or "certain situations" exist, "specified circumstances" maintains a formal and precise tone, making it suitable for technical or legal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defined conditions

Replaces "circumstances" with "conditions" emphasizing a clear set of requirements.

certain situations

Uses "situations" for "circumstances", implying a specific set of events.

particular cases

Substitutes "circumstances" with "cases", focusing on individual instances.

designated situations

Replaces "specified" with "designated", indicating a more formal assignment.

prescribed conditions

Uses "prescribed" instead of "specified", suggesting a mandated set of rules.

stipulated terms

Emphasizes the contractual or legal aspect of the conditions.

explicit provisions

Highlights the clear and unambiguous nature of the conditions.

detailed parameters

Focuses on the technical and measurable aspects of the circumstances.

exceptional cases

Indicates that the circumstances are unusual or not typical.

contingent scenarios

Implies that the circumstances are dependent on other factors.

FAQs

How can I use "specified circumstances" in a sentence?

You can use "specified circumstances" to refer to particular situations that have been clearly defined. For example: "The policy applies only under "specified circumstances", such as a natural disaster."

What are some alternatives to "specified circumstances"?

Alternatives include "defined conditions", "certain situations", or "particular cases". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "clearly specified circumstances"?

While "clearly specified circumstances" isn't grammatically incorrect, it can be redundant. The word "specified" already implies clarity, so "specified circumstances" is usually sufficient.

What's the difference between "specified circumstances" and "special circumstances"?

"Specified circumstances" refers to conditions that have been explicitly defined, while "special circumstances" implies unusual or exceptional situations that may not have been pre-defined.