Compulsory

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello,

Would you mind checking my sentence please?

In some countries military service is compulsory, meaning that you’re obligated to enlist in the army.

Thanks!

2

In some countries military service is compulsory, meaning that you are obliged to enlist in the army.

3

Thanks, Bev!

Incidentally, “obligated” is wrong because it alludes to conscience, rather than law, correct?

4

It might actually be right, Tort. (n fact it probably is.) It just sounds odder than ‘obliged’ within that sentence (to me, at least). ‘Obliged’ to me indicates that you are duty-bound and forced into it, whereas ‘obligated’, even though it can relate to law, sounds more as if you are required to do so, but there is a small element of ‘might not actually do it’.
Perhaps it’s just me.