when required by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when required by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are specifying conditions under which something must be done or provided. Example: "The report must be submitted when required by the regulatory authorities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Last week, the Vatican issued guidelines urging bishops to report abuse cases to civil authorities when required by local laws.

The New York Times

The resolution, making English the official language of county government here, has no practical impact -- the county translates documents and provides interpreters only when required by federal law.

The New York Times

AppNexus says it only shares data when it is aggregated into a report or when required by law (this is the same for all organisations that store data).

The Guardian - Tech

It releases information when required by law but notifies users before the disclosures unless it is legally prohibited from doing so.

The New York Times - Tech

They raised their right hands and plowed through the long, stilted oath "I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law...."....

The New York Times

Equipment as fundamental as scalpels, needles, syringes, IV fluids and lines have "frequently been unavailable when required by staff during busy clinics", the letter says.

The Guardian

She said conference calls should replace traveling, when possible; that reports should be mailed only when required by law; and that cellular phones, beepers, subscriptions and equipment rentals, among other things, "be eliminated unless deemed critical".

The New York Times

Later, at Woody Allen's, he practised his "spouting" – a technique for storing water in the stomach and then spewing it out when required – by swallowing a goldfish and "spouting" it back out into a bowl.

Independent

When required by the protocol, 10 mL/kg of saline at body temperature was instilled to simulate pleural effusion (PLEF).

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

When required by the protocol, 10 ml/kg of body temperature saline was instilled to simulate pleural effusion.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Now, AT&T seemed to renege on that year-ago pledge, saying it will "only permit the sharing of location" in limited cases, including when required by law.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "when required by", ensure the entity doing the requiring is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "when required by law" or "when required by the client."

Common error

Avoid using "when required by" without specifying who or what is doing the requiring. Saying something is done "when required by circumstances" is less clear than "when required by the project manager."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when required by" functions as an adverbial clause of condition, specifying under what circumstances an action or event should occur. Ludwig AI shows this construction is widely used in various contexts to introduce a condition that triggers a specific action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

53%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when required by" functions as an adverbial clause of condition, setting the circumstances under which an action should be taken. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across news, scientific, and formal business contexts with a neutral to professional register. To ensure clarity, explicitly state who or what is doing the requiring. Related phrases include "as stipulated by" and "if mandated by". The high frequency and broad applicability of this phrase make it a versatile tool for precise and conditional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as stipulated by

Replaces "when required" with a more formal term, emphasizing a pre-existing rule or agreement.

if mandated by

Focuses on a formal order or legal imperative.

when dictated by

Suggests a more authoritative or controlling influence.

as deemed necessary by

Shifts the decision-making authority to a specific entity.

subject to the demands of

Emphasizes the influence of external pressures or needs.

contingent upon the needs of

Highlights the conditional nature of the action based on specific needs.

if the situation calls for

More informal, focusing on situational necessity.

as may be necessitated by

A more formal and complex way of expressing conditional necessity.

pursuant to the requirements of

Highly formal, often used in legal or official contexts.

according to the needs of

Focuses on addressing particular needs or conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "when required by" in a sentence?

Use "when required by" to indicate a conditional action based on a specific need or regulation. For instance, "The data is shared "when required by law"."

What's a formal alternative to "when required by"?

A more formal alternative could be "as stipulated by" or "pursuant to the requirements of", often used in legal or official contexts.

What phrases are similar in meaning to "when required by"?

Similar phrases include "as needed", "if necessary", or "as the situation demands".

Is there a difference between "when required by" and "if required by"?

"When required by" implies a more definite or predictable requirement, whereas "if required by" suggests a more conditional or uncertain situation. The choice depends on the specific context.