voluntary with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "voluntary with" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a voluntary action or agreement involving someone or something, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The participation in the study was voluntary with no obligation to continue."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It was voluntary, with a gun to your head".

The New York Times

The agreements were voluntary, with no targets or deadlines.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The tests are voluntary, with 5 to 10 drivers tested each race.

The New York Times - Sports

But those commitments would be voluntary, with countries offering their own climate plans.

The Guardian

PCS says 90% of tax is effectively voluntary, with so few staff to check suspect cases.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Santiago Principles are voluntary, with no penalties for non-compliance.

The Economist

Membership in the group is voluntary, with no sanctions enforced against member states that violate guidelines.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I would leave such labeling voluntary, with the hope that more and more producers would join in.

The New York Times - Food

The Safe Schools program is voluntary, with teachers and principals choosing the elements that are age-appropriate and meet the needs of their students," he said.

The Guardian

Ministers at the forum also considered a report on warning labels on alcohol for pregnant women and agreed to keep it voluntary with a review in two years.

The Guardian

At the time, the agency stressed that any future quarantine within the United States would "almost always be voluntary, with incentives to cooperate".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase “voluntary with” in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "completely voluntary", "purely voluntary", or "voluntary participation".

Common error

Using "voluntary with" can lead to misinterpretations. Instead of assuming the reader will understand, clarify the sentence by specifying what aspect is voluntary, such as "participation" or "agreement."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "voluntary with" functions as a descriptive phrase attempting to qualify the nature of something as voluntary, but its usage is grammatically questionable. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is not correct. The examples show various attempts to use the phrase, often preceding additional conditions or explanations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "voluntary with" is frequently used but grammatically awkward. While it appears in various contexts, including science, news, and business, Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect. For clarity and grammatical correctness, it's best to use alternatives like "completely voluntary", "purely voluntary", or "voluntary participation". These options provide more precise and less ambiguous ways to express the concept of something being undertaken willingly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely voluntary

Emphasizes the absence of any coercion or external influence.

purely voluntary

Highlights that the action is based solely on one's own volition, without any other factors influencing the decision.

strictly voluntary

Indicates a firm and unequivocal adherence to the principle of voluntariness, with no exceptions or compromises.

entirely voluntary

Similar to 'completely voluntary', but with a nuance of totality and inclusiveness.

genuinely voluntary

Stresses the authenticity and sincerity of the voluntary nature of the action, implying that it is free from any hidden motives or manipulations.

voluntary participation

Focuses specifically on the act of taking part willingly in something, highlighting the active engagement of individuals.

optional

Indicates the possibility to choose; not required.

by choice

The action is taken as a result of someone's own will or preference, and not because they are forced to do it.

of one's own accord

The action is taken without any prompting or external influence.

willingly

The action is performed readily and enthusiastically.

FAQs

Is "voluntary with" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "voluntary with" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English. It is recommended to use alternatives like "completely "completely voluntary"" or "purely "purely voluntary"" depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "voluntary with"?

You can use alternatives such as "voluntary participation", ""completely voluntary"", or ""purely voluntary"" depending on the context.

How to improve the clarity of a sentence using "voluntary with"?

Replace the phrase with a more explicit expression. For example, instead of "the program is voluntary with some restrictions", say "participation in the program is voluntary, but some restrictions apply".

What is the difference between "voluntary with" and "completely voluntary"?

While "voluntary with" is grammatically awkward, ""completely voluntary"" clearly indicates that something is undertaken willingly and without any compulsion or external influence.