within these limits

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "within these limits" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a range or boundary within which something is applicable or permissible. Example: "The project must be completed within these limits to ensure compliance with the regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But within these limits, we had remarkable freedom.

The New Yorker

Almost everything the government does is within these limits.

The New Yorker

By remaining within these limits, life can go forward.

The Guardian

"Society," he said, "wants the past examined, but within these limits".

The New York Times

It was focused on providing for basic human needs within these limits.

The Guardian - Opinion

Within these limits, we could not bring George Bush Saddam Hussein's scalp.

The New York Times

Within these limits no systematic but only statistical variation of the damping and linewidth are observed.

Nature

Within these limits French law allows a servitude to be created for any purpose.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Within these limits, viewers should be able to enjoy the most immersive experience.

The Economist

This means that the franc's value will be permitted to vary within these limits.

The New York Times

Typically, some two-thirds of the population of an industrial country lies within these limits.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase to refer back to specific numbers, rules or physical boundaries mentioned immediately before. For example, 'The temperature must be between 20°C and 25°C; "within these limits", the reaction is stable.'

Common error

Avoid using this phrase when you actually mean inherent weaknesses. Use "within these limits" to describe staying inside a defined boundary, but use 'despite these limitations' if you are referring to flaws or constraints that hinder performance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a prepositional phrase typically serving as an adverbial modifier. In the data provided by Ludwig, it often establishes the necessary conditions or scope for a subsequent statement to be true. It consists of the preposition 'within', the demonstrative adjective 'these', and the plural noun 'limits'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Social Media

4%

Wiki

3%

General Conversation

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "within these limits" is a highly reliable and grammatically correct phrase for defining constraints. According to Ludwig, it is most at home in Scientific and Academic writing, where it acts as a crucial anchor for data and compliance. Whether you are describing geographical areas in Britannica or statistical variations in Nature, this phrase ensures clarity by explicitly referring back to established parameters. It is perfectly interchangeable with alternatives like <a href="/s/within+these+parameters" target="_blank" rel="alternative">within these parameters in technical settings, but remains the standard choice for general professional use. Use it when you need to emphasize that something is permissible or valid only as long as it stays inside specific, previously mentioned boundaries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

within these bounds

Commonly used in poetic or more formal abstract contexts.

within these parameters

Preferred in technical, scientific, or mathematical discussions.

inside these boundaries

More often implies physical or geographical borders.

under these constraints

Emphasizes the restrictive nature or pressure of the rules.

in this range

Focuses on numerical or data-driven spectrums.

subject to these restrictions

More legalistic or regulatory in tone.

within these thresholds

Refers to the specific points at which a change occurs.

at these levels

Specifically refers to measurements or intensities.

within these confines

Suggests a sense of being enclosed or limited by a specific space.

keeping to these guidelines

Focuses on the procedural or behavioral adherence to rules.

FAQs

How to use "within these limits" in a sentence?

You can use "within these limits" to show that an action or value is confined to a previously mentioned range. For example: "The design is approved as long as it stays <a href="/s/within+these+limits" target="_blank" rel="alternative">within these limits."

What can I say instead of "within these limits"?

Depending on your context, you can use <a href="/s/within+these+parameters" target="_blank" rel="alternative">within these parameters for technical writing or <a href="/s/inside+these+boundaries" target="_blank" rel="alternative">inside these boundaries for physical spaces.

Is "within these limits" formal or informal?

It is a neutral to formal phrase. It appears very frequently in professional contexts like <a href="/s/academic+research" target="_blank" rel="alternative">academic research and legal documents, but is perfectly acceptable in standard conversation.

What is the difference between "within these limits" and "within these bounds"?

While <a href="/s/within+these+bounds" target="_blank" rel="alternative">within these bounds is often more abstract or metaphorical, "within these limits" is more common in scientific and statistical reporting where specific numerical caps are involved.