to be mandatory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be mandatory" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means that something is required or necessary to be done. Example: It is mandatory to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle in this city.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Recycling ought to be mandatory.

The New York Times

"The first ones wanted to make sure that it wasn't going to be mandatory.

The New York Times

It's not going to be mandatory; no jobs will be lost if people make a mistake.

The Guardian - Opinion

The BDA campaigns for training to be mandatory in teacher training courses.

The Guardian

For any pianist, the use of the best urtext editions ought to be mandatory.

The Guardian - Books

New interconnection standards for Photovoltaic systems are going to be mandatory in some countries.

International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems

One-lung ventilation is considered to be mandatory in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia

For any pianist, the use of the best urtext editions ought to be mandatory.

The Guardian - Books

If language proficiency used to be mandatory, learning languages is now often seen as too hard.

The Guardian

Impact assessments need to be mandatory, with non-compliant organisations facing stringent penalties.

The Guardian

"I think," she said, "it needs to be mandatory". I think so too.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to be mandatory", ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what is imposing the requirement. For example, "Training is mandatory for all new employees."

Common error

Avoid using "to be mandatory" without specifying the scope or consequences. Instead of saying "Registration is to be mandatory", clarify it as "Registration is mandatory for all participants, and failure to register will result in exclusion from the event."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be mandatory" functions as a predicate adjective, indicating that something is required, obligatory, or essential according to a rule, law, or standard. Ludwig shows many examples of this phrase being used in various contexts to convey the necessity of an action or requirement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be mandatory" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something is required or obligatory. Ludwig AI confirms its wide applicability across various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, clarity is key: always specify what is mandatory and for whom or what. While alternatives like "to be required" or "to be compulsory" exist, "to be mandatory" remains a direct and effective choice for conveying necessity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be required

Changes the wording to emphasize the necessity imposed by a rule or law.

to be compulsory

Replaces "mandatory" with a synonym, indicating something that must be done.

to be obligatory

Substitutes "mandatory" with a synonym that highlights a duty or obligation.

to be a necessity

Shifts the focus to the essential nature of something, rather than its imposition.

to be essential

Emphasizes the crucial importance of something, implying it cannot be avoided.

to be imperative

Highlights the urgent and crucial nature of something, making it unavoidable.

to be a must

Uses a more informal expression to indicate something that is highly recommended or necessary.

to be unavoidable

Focuses on the certainty that something will happen or must be done.

to be prescribed

Indicates that something is officially recommended or ordered, often in a medical or legal context.

to be de rigueur

Introduces a French term indicating something that is expected or required by custom or fashion.

FAQs

How do I use "to be mandatory" in a sentence?

Use "to be mandatory" to express that something is required or obligatory. For example, "Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory while driving."

What can I say instead of "to be mandatory"?

You can use alternatives like "to be required", "to be compulsory", or "to be essential" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "will be mandatory"?

Yes, "will be mandatory" is grammatically correct and indicates that something will be required in the future. For example, "The new safety regulations will be mandatory starting next month."

What's the difference between "to be mandatory" and "to be optional"?

"To be mandatory" means something is required and must be done, whereas "to be optional" means something is not required and is a choice.