mardi 6 mai 2014

Notes on usage: Limit

Restriction - Control - Constraint - Restraint - Limitation

 

These are all words for sth that limits what you can do or what can happen.

 

Limit the greatest or smallest amount of sth that is allowed: The EU has set strict limits on pollution levels. | The speed limit.
Restriction (rather formal) a rule or law that limits what you can do: There are no restrictions on the amount of money you can withdraw.
Control (often in compounds) the act of limiting or managing sth; a method of doing this: Arms control.
Constraint (rather formal) a fact or decision that limits what you can do: We have to work within severe constraints of time and money.
Restraint (rather formal) a decision, a rule, an idea, etc. that limits what you can do; the act of limiting sth because it is necessary or sensible to do so: The government has imposed export restraints on some products. | The unions are unlikely to accept any sort of wage restraint.
Limitation the act or process of limiting sth; a rule, fact or condition that limits sth: They would resist any limitation of their powers.

 

RESTRICTION, CONSTRAINT, RESTRAINT OR LIMITATION?
These are all things that limit what you can do. A restriction is rule or law that is made by sb in authority. A constraint is sth that exists rather than sth that is made, although it may exist as a result of sb’s decision. A restraint is also sth that exists: it can exist outside yourself, as the result of sb else’s decision; but it can also exist inside you, as a fear of what other people may think or as your own feeling about what is acceptable: moral/social/cultural restraints. A limitation is more general and can be a rule that sb makes or a fact or condition that exists.

 

PATTERNS
*limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints/ limitations on sth
*limits/limitations to sth
*severe limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/ restraints/limitations
*tight limits/restrictions/controls/constraints
*to impose/remove limits/restrictions/controls/ constraints/restraints/limitations
*to lift restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints

 

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Top Tips Abz Ingles - Notes on usage - Synonyms
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See also:

Common Phrasal Verbs Irregular Verbs List
Common Sentences Errors Frequently confused words
Common Clichés Thematic list of Idioms
Common misspellings Phrasal Verbs Particles list
Common Preposition Lista de Términos Gramaticales

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