a clear and decisive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a clear and decisive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is unmistakable and leaves no room for doubt, often in the context of decisions or actions. Example: "The committee reached a clear and decisive conclusion after hours of deliberation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

"We have suffered a clear and decisive defeat".

The New York Times

"A clear and decisive Palestinian response" is required, the paper wrote.

The New York Times

The reason Labour's mass membership now seeks a clear and decisive break with the Blair-Brown model is no great mystery.

The Guardian - Opinion

but you have also ensured that the referendum next year will give the Scottish people a clear and decisive question on which to cast their vote.

The Guardian

If you have a clear and decisive vision of how the world should be, you can't be expected to tolerate things that don't fit in.

The Guardian

"If we are saying in a clear and decisive but very limited way, we send a shot across the bow saying: 'Stop doing this,' this can have a positive impact on our national security over the long term," he said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Ruth Holdaway, chief executive of the national body Women in Sport said that a woman's biochemistry could have "a clear, and sometimes decisive impact on female athletes' performance".

Independent

This week, the Sierra Club and nearly 200 organizations from the United States, Europe, and across the world joined together in a sending a simple, clear, and decisive statement to the United States Trade Representative Michael Froman and European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht: Keep investor-state dispute settlement out of the U.S.-EU trade pact.

Huffington Post

But … I think what the Scottish people deserve is a fair, clear and decisive question". Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Cameron's move represented a "blatant attempt to interfere in a decision that's rightly one for the Scottish people".

The Guardian

Together, Fund and Spakovsky bring decades of sophisticated practice, insight, and historical perspective to this crucial moment in American history, and lay out a novel, clear, and decisive strategy to reinstate the integrity of the American voter registration and election process.

Forbes

Acknowledge their desire for "a few more minutes," but be clear and decisive; don't fan the flames of their frustration by engaging in angry negotiations that aren't likely to yield a positive result.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a clear and decisive" when you want to convey a sense of certainty and finality regarding a decision, action, or outcome. It effectively communicates that something is not only easily understood but also has a significant impact.

Common error

While "a clear and decisive" is appropriate for formal writing, avoid overusing it in casual conversation or informal writing, where simpler language might be more suitable. Using it too frequently in informal settings can make your communication sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a clear and decisive" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. According to Ludwig AI, it describes something easily understood with a significant impact, often characterizing actions, decisions, or outcomes. It adds emphasis and weight to the noun it modifies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a clear and decisive" functions as an adjective phrase typically used to modify nouns in a way that emphasizes both the ease of understanding and the significance of impact. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of the phrase. It's commonly found in news, academic, and formal business writing, and while grammatically sound, overuse in informal contexts should be avoided. Alternatives such as "a definitive and firm" and "an unambiguous and resolute" can be employed for variety. The analyzed sources highlight the phrase's frequent use in authoritative media outlets, affirming its relevance in conveying certainty and resolution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a definitive and firm

Replaces 'clear' with 'definitive' and 'decisive' with 'firm', emphasizing finality and stability.

an unambiguous and resolute

Uses 'unambiguous' instead of 'clear', stressing lack of ambiguity, and 'resolute' for 'decisive', highlighting determination.

an evident and determined

Substitutes 'clear' with 'evident' emphasizing visibility, and 'decisive' with 'determined', stressing purposefulness.

a distinct and conclusive

Replaces 'clear' with 'distinct', emphasizing easy recognition, and 'decisive' with 'conclusive', highlighting the ending of doubt.

a straightforward and impactful

Uses 'straightforward' instead of 'clear', stressing simplicity, and 'impactful' for 'decisive', focusing on effect.

an explicit and consequential

Substitutes 'clear' with 'explicit', emphasizing directness, and 'decisive' with 'consequential', focusing on importance.

a manifest and influential

Replaces 'clear' with 'manifest' emphasizing that something is easily visible and 'decisive' with 'influential' focusing on impact.

an unequivocal and categorical

Emphasizes lack of ambiguity with 'unequivocal' and places something without exception with 'categorical' instead of decisive.

a telling and momentous

Emphasizes visibility and influence with 'telling' and 'momentous' instead of 'clear and decisive'.

an emphatic and significant

Highlights forcefulness and importance with 'emphatic' and 'significant' instead of clear and decisive.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a clear and decisive" in a sentence?

Use "a clear and decisive" to describe actions, decisions, or results that are both easily understood and have a significant impact. For example, "The manager took "a clear and decisive" action to resolve the conflict."

What are some alternatives to using "a clear and decisive"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a definitive and firm", "an unambiguous and resolute", or "a straightforward and impactful" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "a clear and decisive" and "a strong and effective"?

"A clear and decisive" emphasizes understanding and finality, while "a strong and effective" focuses on power and positive results. Choose the phrase that best aligns with the aspect you want to highlight. You may find some similarity with the sentence "a substantial and decisive".

When is it appropriate to use "a clear and decisive" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "a clear and decisive" in situations where you want to emphasize that something is both easily understood and has a significant impact. This is common in formal writing, business reports, and news articles.