keep the rule vs obey the rule

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Keep the rule' is more commonly used when referring to following or abiding by a rule consistently, while 'obey the rule' is used when emphasizing the act of following a rule or command. The choice between the two depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 6976 views

keep the rule

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to consistently following or abiding by a rule.

This phrase is used to indicate the act of following or abiding by a rule consistently over time.

Examples:

It's important to keep the rule of confidentiality in our organization.
She always tries to keep the rule of honesty in all her dealings.

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You all keep the rules of the code.
The IRS keeps changing the rules so we can keep getting rich teaching them.
Keep flouting the rules and you'll see how serious I am.
I just came to use bathroom because she keeps violating the rule.
We can't keep changing the rules every time.
I would therefore urge you to keep to the rules in future.
As commander in chief I was unable to keep the first rule of combat.
You should try to keep the filter rules as simple as possible.
I'm dealing with an angry 8-year-old Who keeps changing the rules as she goes.
This does not provide an incentive to decision-makers to take the necessary action, but rather to keep changing the rules.
However, now that hostilities have largely ceased, we want the Croatian Government itself to keep all the rules of democracy.
Mr President, it goes without saying that all Member States should keep to the rules which form part of the Common Fisheries Policy.
That is the situation according to the Rules of Procedure, and we keep to the rules.
I cannot go into this in detail today, but you can see that while we are moving towards greater competition in this sector too, we still think there is good reason to keep the special rules on car and lorry distribution in place for the time being.
I really would ask you to keep to the rules of the European Union and apply the same standard to both of them.
Straight anti-Americanism would be too narrow an approach, but we must still call upon the United States to keep to the rules that we all agreed upon.
I do understand that Mr Posselt and others are saying that we should act anyway, even if we do not keep to the Rules of Procedure.
I just want to make this last point: Mr Caspary said - if I may elaborate on and embroider his words slightly - that we should keep to the rules and at all times seek to strengthen and improve them.
I find the attitude of Members from the former cohesion countries particularly irksome in this connection, since they have so far snubbed our proposals to keep the current rules in place, even though they themselves benefited from these rules in the past.
Mr President, what is going on in the countries that want to keep the transitional rules is no more than the semblance of a debate, and, of course, Germany is one of them.

Alternatives:

follow the rule
abide by the rule
adhere to the rule
comply with the rule
stick to the rule

obey the rule

This phrase is correct and commonly used when emphasizing the act of following a rule or command.

This phrase is used to highlight the action of following a rule or command, often with a sense of authority or obligation.