In legal English a verb and noun form a fixed pair: you file a claim, breach a contract and waive the right to something.
Legal contract collocations
Not "By leaking the designs, the company waived the contract terms." — say "By leaking the designs, the company breached the contract terms.". Breaking the terms is breach; waive means giving up a right you hold.
Try it: Mei: Why is the tenant in trouble with the landlord? Matilda: By subletting the apartment without asking, the tenant could ___. Choose the words for the blank. (breach a contract / file a claim / waive the right to sue) Answer: breach a contract — Breaking the terms of an agreement is breaching a contract.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
file a claim
/ˈfaɪl ə ˈkleɪm/
After the accident, the company had thirty days to file a claim with the insurer.
breach a contract
/ˈbritʃ ə ˈkɑntrækt/
By sharing confidential designs with a rival, the supplier may breach a contract.
waive the right to
/ˈweɪv ðə ˈraɪt tu/
The buyer agreed to waive the right to cancel after the final deadline.
Business and compliance collocations
Business English also uses fixed pairs: parties reach a settlement to end a dispute, and companies comply with rules.
Not "All suppliers must comply the safety regulations." — say "All suppliers must comply with the safety regulations.". Comply needs the preposition with before its noun.
Try it: Mei: How did the fence dispute end? Matilda: With a mediator's help, the two sides finally ___ and dropped the matter. Choose the words for the blank. (reached a settlement / filed a claim / breached a contract) Answer: reached a settlement — Two sides agreeing terms that end a dispute have reached a settlement.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
reach a settlement
/ˈritʃ ə ˈsɛtəlmənt/
The company agreed to reach a settlement before the case went to trial.
comply with
/kəmˈplaɪ wɪð/
All suppliers must comply with safety regulations before shipping.
Getting a deal off the ground
Before signing, deals use fixed pairs such as draft a proposal and exercise due diligence; afterwards parties fulfill an obligation.
Not "The buyer made due diligence before signing." — say "The buyer exercised due diligence before signing.". Due diligence takes exercise, conduct or perform (informally do), not make.
Try it: Mei: Why has the board not voted on the takeover yet? Matilda: The board would not vote until the accountants had ___ and reported on the target company's books. Choose the words for the blank. (exercised due diligence / drafted a proposal / furnished a guarantee) Answer: exercised due diligence — Checking the other side's books before committing is exercise due diligence.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
draft a proposal
/ˈdræft ə prəˈpoʊzl/
The legal team was asked to draft a proposal setting out the revised terms.
exercise due diligence
/ˈɛksərsaɪz ˈdu ˈdɪlɪdʒəns/
Before acquiring the startup, the buyer exercised due diligence on its finances.
seek authorization
/ˈsik ˌɔθərəˈzeɪʃn/
Branch managers must seek authorization before approving a discount that large.
furnish a guarantee
/ˈfɜrnɪʃ ə ˌgærənˈti/
The supplier agreed to furnish a guarantee covering the first two years.
fulfill an obligation
/fʊlˈfɪl ən ˌɑblɪˈgeɪʃn/
The contractor must fulfill its obligation to complete the work by December.
When an authority steps in
When a court or regulator acts, the verbs change: a court grants an injunction, and a regulator enforces sanctions.
Not "The regulator made sanctions against the firm." — say "The regulator enforced sanctions against the firm.". Sanctions take enforce or impose, not make.
Try it: Mei: What did the residents ask the court for? Matilda: They asked it to ___ preventing any building work until the dispute was settled. Choose the words for the blank. (grant an injunction / enforce sanctions / furnish a guarantee) Answer: grant an injunction — A court grants an injunction, an order that stops someone from acting.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
grant an injunction
/ˈgrænt ən ɪnˈdʒʊŋkʃn/
The judge agreed to grant an injunction stopping the sale of the property.
enforce sanctions
/ɪnˈfɔrs ˈsæŋkʃnz/
The regulator threatened to enforce sanctions against firms that missed the standard.
What are the common mistakes?
Incorrect
Correct
Why
By leaking the designs, the company waived the contract terms.
By leaking the designs, the company breached the contract terms.
Breaking the terms is breach; waive means giving up a right you hold.
All suppliers must comply the safety regulations.
All suppliers must comply with the safety regulations.
Comply needs the preposition with before its noun.
The buyer made due diligence before signing.
The buyer exercised due diligence before signing.
Due diligence takes exercise, conduct or perform (informally do), not make.
The regulator made sanctions against the firm.
The regulator enforced sanctions against the firm.