Rules vs Regulations
Rules and Regulations are two words that are often confused since they appear to mean the same. Strictly they do not mean the same. There is in fact some difference between them in terms of their usage and connotations.
One of the main differences between rules and regulations is that by rules you restrict and by regulations you control certain procedures. By ‘traffic regulations’ you tend to understand that the traffic is controlled by certain procedures. By ‘traffic rules’ you tend to understand that you should follow certain restrictions when it comes to moving in a traffic.
A regulation becomes a legal rule. For example a regulation issued by a local government or an administrative agency becomes a legal rule. It becomes a restriction that has legal force. On the other hand a rule is traditionally defined as “Generally an established and authoritative standard of principle; a general norm mandating or guiding conduct or action in a given type of situation”.
It is important to note that in legal translation the word ‘regulation’ is used to denote a set of rules that have legal connotations. Regulations are official in use whereas rules are not official in use. Regulations pertain to a workplace such as an office or a firm. On the other hand rules pertain to games, sports and the like.
In short it can be said that rules are quite often associated with games or sports. They describe how a particular game or a sport should be played. Another way of differentiating regulations from rules is that regulations are a set of standards that must be followed at any cost. These standards will not change.
On the other hand rules should be followed for the betterment of a workplace or a concern. Rules are at times transgressed. Regulations cannot be transgressed for that matter.
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