will be grandfathered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will be grandfathered" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or regulatory contexts to indicate that certain existing conditions or rules will continue to apply to individuals or entities even after new rules are implemented. Example: "Those who signed up for the service before the price increase will be grandfathered in at the old rate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

All the existing banks will be grandfathered in.

The New Yorker

Polt, who received his athlete visa from the State Department last year, will be grandfathered in as a North American under Blizzard's new terms.

The New Yorker

Many old bridges will suddenly be out of date but will be grandfathered in, as is the case with many old homes as community standards rise.

The New York Times

Officials say the coal-fired power plants that now release the highest level of these emissions will be grandfathered in at current levels, meaning they are exempt from the new rules.

The New York Times

But Pakistan, where the C.I.A. has waged a robust campaign of air assaults on terrorism suspects in the tribal areas, will be grandfathered in for a transition period and remain under C.I.A. control.

The New York Times

In some cases, the banks are awaiting critical details from regulators about what they may hold on their books or whether certain business activities or holdings will be grandfathered in under the new legislation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Worry not, existing T-Mobile customers: if you've got the feature currently, then you'll be grandfathered in for the foreseeable future.

TechCrunch

With any luck at all, there will be grandfather clauses and exceptions and loopholes and extenuating circumstances that will allow these kids to play intact at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., starting Saturday, without feeling they have been victimized by society.

The New York Times - Sports

Widrich says existing Respondly customers will likely be grandfathered on their existing pricing — at least for a while — while new customers will be pushed to the new pricing (either $35 per seat or $70 per seat for the pro version).

TechCrunch

"The reactionaries in the faculties will eventually be grandfathered out," says Tyler Cowen, co-founder of the Marginal Revolution University, which has pioneered free online learning in economics and other subjects.

The Economist

"They have assured us that just a few, a handful, will slip through and be grandfathered in," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "will be grandfathered", ensure the context clearly states which specific rules or regulations the subject is being exempted from. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the statement's clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that being "grandfathered" implies complete immunity from all future changes. Clarify which aspects remain exempt and which might be subject to future modifications to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will be grandfathered" functions as a passive verb construction indicating that something or someone will receive an exemption from new rules or regulations due to a pre-existing status or condition. As Ludwig AI shows, this is most often seen in legal or regulatory contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "will be grandfathered" is a common and grammatically correct expression, primarily used in legal and regulatory settings to indicate that existing entities or situations will be exempt from new rules due to their prior status. Ludwig AI confirms its prevalent usage across News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business domains. Key aspects of this phrase include ensuring clarity in its application and avoiding assumptions of blanket immunity from all future changes. Alternative phrases, such as ""will be exempt"" and "will be protected under a grandfather clause", offer similar meanings with varying emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will be protected under a grandfather clause

Specifically mentions the legal mechanism providing protection.

will be exempt

Focuses on being excused from a requirement.

will be excluded

Emphasizes being left out of a new regulation.

will not be subject to the new requirements

Highlights the absence of obligation to comply with new demands.

will be allowed to continue under existing rules

Highlights the permission to operate under the old system.

will maintain existing privileges

Stresses the retention of current advantages.

will retain current status

Focuses on keeping the same standing.

will be kept under old guidelines

Emphasizes the retention of existing standards.

will be unaffected by the new regulations

Emphasizes the lack of impact from new rules.

will be held harmless

Focuses on being shielded from any negative consequences.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "will be grandfathered"?

It means that existing entities or situations "will be exempt" from new rules or regulations due to prior status or agreements.

How can I use "will be grandfathered" in a sentence?

You can say, "Existing users "will be grandfathered" into the original pricing plan, even after the new rates take effect".

What's the difference between "will be grandfathered" and ""will be exempt""?

"Will be grandfathered" implies a specific clause or provision protecting existing entities, whereas ""will be exempt"" is a more general term for being excluded from a requirement.

Are there situations where "will be grandfathered" doesn't apply?

Yes, "will be grandfathered" typically doesn't apply if the entity undergoes significant changes or violates existing agreements. In some cases policies can be reviewed and altered.