Cool MateCompulsory vs The death sentence is mandatory
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Compulsory
FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)B2adjective
The death sentence is mandatory
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Compulsory
| Compulsory | The death sentence is mandatory | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpʌlsəri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpʌlsəri/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðə dɛθ ˈsɛntəns ɪz ˈmændətəri//🇺🇸 //ðə dɛθ ˈsɛntəns ɪz ˈmændətɔri// |
| Meaning | Something that must be done or followed. | The death penalty must be given in certain cases. |
| Example | English is a **compulsory subject** at this level. | In some jurisdictions, the death sentence is mandatory for murder. |
| Register | Formal | Formal |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | compulsory education, compulsory attendance, compulsory courses, compulsory insurance | death sentence is mandatory, mandatory penalties, mandatory sentencing laws |
| Antonyms | optional, voluntary, discretionary | discretionary, optional |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'optional'; it means the opposite., Often misspelled as 'compolsory'., Used incorrectly as an adverb; it is an adjective. | Confusing 'mandatory' with 'optional'., 'The death sentence is mandatorily' is incorrect., Using 'mandatory' instead of 'mandatory for'. |
| Usage notes | Used in formal contexts, often in legal or academic settings. Avoid using in casual conversation; instead, use 'required' or 'mandatory' in those contexts. | Used in legal contexts when discussing laws. Avoid informal settings or casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Compulsory vs The death sentence is mandatory
What's the difference between Compulsory and The death sentence is mandatory?
Compulsory: Something that must be done or followed. The death sentence is mandatory: The death penalty must be given in certain cases.
Which is more common: Compulsory and The death sentence is mandatory?
Compulsory is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Compulsory: English is a **compulsory subject** at this level. The death sentence is mandatory: In some jurisdictions, the death sentence is mandatory for murder.
Can I use Compulsory and The death sentence is mandatory interchangeably?
Not always. Compulsory and The death sentence is mandatory are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.