to be in violation of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be in violation of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or formal contexts to indicate that someone or something is not complying with a rule, law, or regulation. Example: "The company was found to be in violation of environmental regulations and faced significant fines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Anyone found to be in violation of the policy may be prohibited from using or driving for the service.

The Guardian

arbitrators last year found the subsidies to be in violation of American agreements, and authorized Brazil to retaliate.

The New York Times

There will also be bigger fines for those found to be in violation of air pollution standards.

The Guardian

Haiti's regulator, Conatel, found Digicel to be in violation of international standards, but was overruled by the government.

The Economist

Over all, almost 4 percent of petitions were found to be in violation of the prevailing wage requirement.

The New York Times

For that reason, if a comment is perceived to be in violation of our community standards, we remove it from the site entirely.

The Guardian

True was found to be in violation of the Getty's conflict-of-interest policy, and immediately suspended; on October 1, 2005, she resigned.

The New Yorker

The conferences deemed to be in violation of NASD rules featured a sock hop, a beach party and a dinner in a Civil War fort.

The New York Times

However, Google and YouTube searches on Monday appeared to still show online content available that is likely to be in violation of lèse-majesté laws.

The Guardian

C1 Adelphia Misses Payment The big cable operator failed to make a key payment to a creditor and appears to be in violation of some debt agreements.

The New York Times

An auditor that the board deems to be in violation of rules may keep working for years while secret proceedings continue.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to be in violation of" in formal writing when precision is important, especially in legal, regulatory, or contractual contexts. This phrase clearly indicates a breach of a specific rule, law, or agreement.

Common error

Avoid using "to be in violation of" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "breaking the rules" or "not following the guidelines" are often more appropriate and sound less stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be in violation of" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a state of non-compliance or contravention with a rule, law, or standard. Ludwig examples show its usage in formal contexts, such as legal and regulatory matters.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to be in violation of" is a prepositional phrase used to formally indicate non-compliance with a rule, law, or agreement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and very commonly used, particularly in news and media sources. It's best suited for formal and professional contexts where precision is necessary. When writing, be mindful of the potential for overuse in informal settings and consider simpler alternatives when appropriate. Top authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this phrase, reinforcing its reliability in formal English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be in breach of

Emphasizes the breaking of an agreement or contract.

to fail to comply with

Directly states a lack of adherence to rules or regulations.

to contravene

Focuses on actively going against a rule or law.

to transgress

Highlights crossing a boundary or moral principle.

to infringe upon

Suggests a violation that affects someone else's rights or property.

to run afoul of

Implies an accidental or unintentional violation.

to defy

Indicates open resistance or disobedience.

to flout

Conveys a disregard for the rules or conventions.

to disregard

Suggests a lack of attention to or respect for a rule.

to overstep

Implies exceeding the limits of what is permitted.

FAQs

How can I use "to be in violation of" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to indicate that something is not complying with a rule, law, or agreement. For example, "The company was found to be in violation of environmental regulations."

What are some alternatives to "to be in violation of"?

You can use alternatives such as "to be in breach of", "to contravene", or "to fail to comply with" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "in violation to" instead of "in violation of"?

No, the correct and idiomatic expression is "to be in violation of". "To be in violation to" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "to be in violation of" and "to be in breach of"?

While both indicate a failure to adhere to a standard, "to be in violation of" often refers to laws or regulations, whereas "to be in breach of" typically refers to contracts or agreements.