Friday, May 9, 2014

by law, bylaw

By law or by law ( two words ) means according to a written staute or regulation--
By law, you have to notify the police within 24 hours of the accident.
The officer said that by law, the dog must be kept on a leash at all times.

Bylaw or bylaw ( one word ) means one of a set of rules ( bylaws ) used to set up and govern an organization, a corporation or a society--
There's a bylaw still operative that permits the president of the corporation to vote in case of a tie.
She is citing a bylaw of the PTA that permits any member to speak to the whole committee.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Our lawyer said that the old bylaw doesn't matter--by law, the corporation is responsible."

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