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Prepositions after verbs

Regulate by, through, under, in, or like?

Regulate is commonly followed by by or through to describe method. Other combinations are more limited or nonstandard.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are natural with regulate?

Use regulate by or regulate through to describe the method or mechanism of control. Regulate under appears in legal contexts. Regulate in and regulate like are not standard fixed combinations.

Traffic is regulated by smart signals.
Prices are regulated through government policy.
The industry is regulated under federal law.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
regulate by + method

Describing the means of control

Use by to show the instrument, rule, or process used for regulation.

Body temperature is regulated by hormones.
Access is regulated by security software.
2
regulate through + system

Showing an indirect mechanism

Use through when regulation happens via a system, process, or institution.

Imports are regulated through licensing procedures.
The market is regulated through national agencies.
3
regulated under + law

Referring to legal authority

Under is common in legal and administrative English.

These products are regulated under EU law.
4
regulate in + context

Using in as a separate adjunct

In is usually part of a larger phrase such as regulate prices in Europe. It does not normally form a fixed combination with regulate.

The government regulates advertising in schools.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
regulate by
The flow is regulated by a valve.
Shows the means or mechanism.
regulate through
Trade is regulated through international agreements.
Shows an indirect process or system.
regulate under
The activity is regulated under state law.
Shows legal authority.
regulate in
The agency regulates emissions in cities.
In introduces a place or context, not a fixed pattern.
regulate like
Nonstandard: regulate like the old system.
Like is not a normal preposition after regulate in this sense.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using regulate like

Like does not normally follow regulate to express method or comparison.

✕ The market is regulated like strict rules. ✓ The market is regulated by strict rules.

Using regulate in as a fixed pattern

In usually introduces a place or context, not the object of regulation.

✕ The sector is regulated in new laws. ✓ The sector is regulated under new laws.

Confusing by and through

By often names a direct mechanism, while through highlights a broader process.

✕ The device is regulated through a switch. ✓ The device is regulated by a switch.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Access is regulated ___ biometric scanners.
2. Financial activity is regulated ___ national legislation.
3. Trade is regulated ___ international agreements.

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Frequently asked questions

Is regulate like correct?

It is generally nonstandard after regulate. Use by, through, or another clearer structure instead.

When do I use regulate under?

Use under when naming a law, regulation, or legal framework.

Can regulate be used without a preposition?

Yes. For example: The agency regulates food safety.

radiate-from-into-around-to, with "raise in" or "raise by"? rake in, through, across, at or over? rally in, around, to, behind or on? "rape by" or "rape in"? ratify by, in, on, according or as? ravage by, from, on, through or with? rave about, at, from, to or before? reach for, by, at, to or into? react to, with, in, by or like? read about, in, on, through or for? "realize in", "realize at" or "realize by"?

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