Regulatory Topics
What is the definition of a regulation?
A rule backed by consequences.
Find the two Style Guide errors in the below sentence. Assume this sentence begins an essay.
On April 6, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency promulgated a proposed rule.
1. Do not start essays with date (Style Guide p. 19).
2. Do not use promulgate (Style Guide p. 26, 72).
True or false: Any action completed by an executive agency is regulatory.
FALSE. Action related to distribution of benefits, for example, is not regulatory. Specific hirings and firings are also not regulatory for the most part.
The Federal Reserve modifies rules for financial transactions. Is this regulatory?
YES!
When can you use the word "like"?
Only use the word "like" to convey similarity. You cannot use the world "like" when you mean "such as" (Style Guide p. 25).
How many Style Guide errors are there in this sentence? What are they? However, Ben recognised the man he saw at the grocery store as an old classmate.
Two errors.
1. However should be placed in the middle of the sentence (Style Guide p. 23).
2. Recognised should be recognized (Style Guide p. 27).
A scholar writes an article discussing recent developments in FDA research on vaccines. Can an AE synopsize the article?
NO, an agency's research efforts are not regulatory in most cases.
What is the difference between advocate and advocate for?
Advocate is a verb; advocate for is a noun (Style Guide p. 25).
Which of the following is a situation where you need a hyphen between the italicized words?
A) The statute was narrowly defined.
B) The rule was subject to notice and comment.
C) The long term effects of this move remain to be seen
C is correct. A involves placing a hyphen after an adverb (prohibited; see p. 56). B involves putting a hyphen when linking nouns (prohibited; see p. 56). C is correct, because Style Guide requires a hyphen when a compound adjective precedes a noun (p. 56).
A law firm modifies its internal code of conduct. The revisions include a mandate that lawyers enter their time at the end of each day, with monetary penalties imposed for those who fail to do so. Is this change regulatory in nature?
YES!
Which of the following words CAN you use in TRR essays: a) utilize, b) toward, c) alright, d) amidst?
c) Toward. Utilize should be use. Alright should be all right. Amidst should be amid.
What are the four types of essays students can write for The Regulatory Review? Note: This question does not include pieces outside of essays (Saturday Seminars, Sunday Spotlights, etc).
1. Opinion
2. Analysis
3. News
4. Synopsis
Most likely not. We avoid covering specific appointments or firings of agency heads, absent a clear tie to agency rulemaking, the scope of the removal/appointment authority, etc.
Find all three of the Style Guide violations in the below sentence.
Additionally, Taylor Swift, a singer-songwriter, has encouraged artists to carefully examine their contracts with record labels.
1. Additionally should be in addition (Style Guide p. 26).
2. Singer-songwriter should be singer songwriter (Style Guide p. 56).
3. To carefully examine should be to examine carefully (Style Guide p. 23).
Find the five Style Guide mistakes in the below paragraph.
My name is Bella Hadid. You may know me as a model. However, I am now an aspiring politician. I am running for a hotly-contested congressional seat in November. Though the polling data shows that I am behind by 50 percentage points, I plan to win the election.
1. Extra space after Hadid. We only use one space after a period (Style Guide p. 16).
2. Third sentence starts with however (Style Guide p. 23).
3. Hyphen between hotly contested (Style Guide p. 56).
4. Final sentence starts with though (Style Guide p. 24).
5. Data shows should be data show (data is plural; Style Guide p. 25).
BONUS: Technically, "data shows" personifies an inanimate object (data).