adopt a principle vs employ a principle

Both 'adopt a principle' and 'employ a principle' are correct phrases, but 'Adopt a principle' is commonly used to indicate accepting or taking on a principle as one's own, while 'employ a principle' is often used to suggest the application or use of a principle in a specific situation.

Explained by Michele A.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: April 01, 2025 • 4590 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"adopt a principle"

This phrase is used to indicate the act of accepting or taking on a principle as one's own.

Examples:

She decided to adopt a principle of honesty in all her dealings.
The company chose to adopt a principle of sustainability in their operations.

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The European Union should therefore adopt a principle of diversity.
It is essential to adopt a principle of this kind if Öresund is to become a common region.
I just wonder why it is that Parliament cannot adopt a principle that always works so well elsewhere: never change a winning team.
It seems right to adopt a principle of mitigation so that there is a sliding scale taking account of the variability of permits and circumstances.
If, when voting on Amendment 19 and Amendment 21 plenary twice adopts a principle or rejects it, then it will apply equally to those paragraphs.
The European Parliament must adopt a position on principle, which is that the rules of the game cannot be changed midway.
With REACH, we are being given the opportunity to obtain the basic data and to adopt a number of principles, which will be incredibly important.
Certainly it is one more lesson in the long line of lessons which perhaps teach us mainly one thing: it is easier to adopt a decision in principle than to ensure its implementation.
However, we cannot adopt high principles of a generous nature indefinitely and, as has often been the case, leave it at that.
This is why we can only adopt a position of principle, the principle of respect for fundamental ethical values, and for the time being all we can do is accept the situation as it stands in the Member States.
On the other hand, rather than referring to the use of the existing instruments, and once again taking a more general approach, the Council thought it more appropriate to adopt as a basic principle the use of national instruments and EU instruments, if necessary.
Requests that, in the context of enlargement, both the Member States and the applicant countries should adopt the principle of a sustainable transport policy in particular by promoting environmentally-friendly public transport (road, rail and waterway) and travel by pedestrians and cyclists;
Feed businesses, except those involved solely in primary production, will be required to adopt HACCP principles.
Amendment No 22 proposes to adopt the principles of good manufacturing practices by legally binding measures.
(21) The European institutions should endeavour to adopt the principles laid down in this Regulation.
Personally, I am also prepared to adopt the principle of extraterritoriality in this connection.
Structural work must adopt the principle of phasing in increased batches of aid.
Rapporteurs should be disinterested and Parliament should adopt this principle in future.
It is balanced and proposes a framework for Member States to adopt common principles.
It is therefore appropriate that the Administrative Council adopts such principles.

Alternatives:

Embrace a principle
Accept a principle
Follow a principle
Incorporate a principle
Make a principle one's own

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"employ a principle"

This phrase is used to indicate the application or use of a principle in a specific situation.

Examples:

The teacher decided to employ a principle of active learning in the classroom.
The organization chose to employ a principle of transparency in their decision-making process.

Show examples from the web [+]

The Union should employ the approach and principles of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States.
Mr Savary's idea to employ the precautionary principle in land use planning is an excellent starting point, and we will definitely follow up that particular proposal.
The scientific evidence is so worrying in terms of public health and the environment that the European Chemicals Bureau recommended the Member States to take a political decision or, more specifically, to employ the precautionary principle.
It is right that the Posting of Workers Directive does not employ a comprehensive State of employment principle, but simply imposes a number of binding conditions.
Calls on states to employ a political system - whether plurality/majority, proportional representation or mixed - that reflects their historical and cultural environment and which addresses the fundamental principles of participation by all citizens in democratic governance;
It is to be hoped that the Commission employs a similar strictness in ensuring the free movement of capital, because even in these circumstances the principle must apply to everyone, for we cannot allow some countries in Europe to be more equal than others.
He employs a technique called onion routing.
Sometimes I employ a plastic surgeon.
Employ a taxi cab 't ask.
You employ a visual display designed to make yourself distinctive and memorable.
They should cover all categories of legislative proposal and employ a clear methodology.
The Agency is expected to employ a staff of about 40-50 people.
We will employ a man who can speak English.
We will employ a man who can speak English.
This armature employs a semi-elliptical lead spring.
Davian employs a cellular structure at his organization.
They employ a subspace proximity detonator.
I happen to have in my employ a most dependable soothsayer.
Parker employs a Mr Philip Farrington to run security.
I employ a small army of them.

Alternatives:

Apply a principle
Utilize a principle
Put into practice a principle
Implement a principle
Use a principle

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adopt a principle vs employ a principle

"adopt a principle"

"employ a principle"

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