Meaning trap
stick to
follow a rule or limit
To obey a rule, limit, or agreement without breaking it.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To obey a rule, limit, or agreement without breaking it.
Another meaning of 'stick to' is 'continue with a plan'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Please stick to the budget we agreed on for this project.
I believe it's important to stick to the rules at work to avoid misunderstandings.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: You must stick the rules.
Say: You must stick to the rules.
'Stick TO' the rules — don't drop 'to'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Stick to' is the everyday verb for keeping within a rule or limit; 'comply with' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
stick to + limit
- the rules
- the budget
- the speed limit
- your diet
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- stick to (continue with a plan) — Another meaning of 'stick to' is 'continue with a plan'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.