without regulation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without regulation" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts discussing the absence of rules or guidelines governing a particular activity or industry. Example: "The market operated without regulation, leading to various ethical concerns." Alternative expressions include "lacking regulation" and "in the absence of regulation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Without transparency you cannot regulate, and without regulation, driverless cars are unlikely to be trusted.

The Guardian

Trading is something people have always done without regulation, but today it is regulated," says ays Weiskopff.

The Guardian - Tech

Vast fisheries are being opened to commercial harvesting, without regulation.

The New York Times

"I don't believe in raw capitalism without regulation.

The Economist

Even without regulation, they have to insist on the highest standards.

The New York Times

Last year, environmentalists sued to close a loophole allowing ships to discharge ballast water without regulation.

The New York Times

Does he really believe that we can prevent corruption without regulation?

The New York Times

Without regulation prohibiting such a combination sale, the problem will grow only worse.

The New York Times

According to Pullman this is simply the normal functioning of a market "operating as markets do without regulation".

The Guardian - Books

Earlier, Mr. Padden had said that without regulation, the new company would have unprecedented power over the content of rivals.

The New York Times

But without regulation, can we really trust a company beholden to its shareholders to be particularly ethical?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with verbs like "operate", "develop", or "proceed" to describe the trajectory of a system that lacks oversight.

Common error

Avoid using "without regulation" if you specifically mean that people are not being watched; in that case, "without supervision" is more accurate. Regulation refers to the rules themselves, whereas supervision refers to the act of monitoring compliance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without regulation" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase acting adverbially to modify verbs. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently used to describe the conditions under which an activity or system exists, specifically indicating a state of being unrestricted or unmanaged.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "without regulation" is an essential tool for writers discussing the absence of rules or oversight. Analysis from Ludwig confirms that it is a correct and versatile expression, appearing in high-quality journalism and academic research. It is particularly common in discussions about free markets, emerging technologies like AI, and environmental issues. While it is widely used to denote a lack of legal frameworks, writers should ensure they distinguish it from a lack of physical supervision. Overall, Ludwig AI identifies it as a high-frequency, professional phrase that is perfectly suitable for formal writing across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking oversight

focuses specifically on the absence of supervision rather than just the rules themselves

in the absence of rules

more descriptive and emphasizes the void where governing structures should be

unregulated

the single-word adjective form, often used to describe a market or industry directly

without governmental control

specifically highlights that the lack of regulation pertains to the state or authorities

free of restriction

carries a slightly more positive or neutral connotation regarding liberty from constraints

without monitoring

implies that while rules might exist, they are not being actively checked or enforced

devoid of regulation

a more formal and emphatic way to state that regulation is completely missing

in a non-regulated manner

shifts the focus to the method of operation within an unregulated environment

sans regulation

uses the French-origin preposition for a more sophisticated or literary tone

unchecked

suggests that the lack of regulation is leading to potential excess or danger

FAQs

How do I use "without regulation" in a sentence?

The phrase "without regulation" usually acts as an adverbial phrase. For example: "The industry flourished "without regulation" for decades."

What is a more formal word for "without regulation"?

You can use the term "unregulated" or the more academic phrase "devoid of oversight" depending on the specific tone of your document.

Is it "without regulation" or "without regulations"?

Both are correct, but they differ slightly in meaning. "without regulation" refers to the general concept of being governed, while "without regulations" refers to the absence of specific individual rules.

Can "without regulation" be used in science?

Yes, in biology it describes processes that occur naturally, such as when molecules move "without regulation" across a cell membrane.