a decision was made

USAGE SUMMARY

"a decision was made" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it when talking about a specific action that occurred at a certain point in time. For example, "After much deliberation, a decision was made to increase the department budget for the upcoming year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Hardly a decision was made without drugs.

The Guardian - Books

A decision was made to surgically remove it.

The New York Times - Sports

A decision was made to storm the house.

The New York Times

A decision was made against proceeding with the Russian edition.

The Guardian - Books

"A decision was made last night not to lock him up," the official said.

The New York Times

Rather, Sandusky said, a decision was made to "see how this, you know, plays out".

The New York Times - Sports

We received over 300 responses, which were carefully considered before a decision was made.

The Guardian

He added, "A decision was made to tell perhaps the truth but not the whole truth".

The New York Times

A decision was made that the new charge should be highly visible.

The Economist

For those reasons, a decision was made entirely at the editorial level to leave it out.

The Guardian

So a decision was made to suppress the fever with Tylenol.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the passive voice construction "a decision was made" when you want to emphasize the action rather than the actor. This is especially useful in formal or official contexts where the decision-maker is less important than the decision itself.

Common error

While "a decision was made" is grammatically sound, overuse of passive voice can make your writing seem weak or evasive. Consider using the active voice when appropriate to make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "a decision was made by the board", write "the board decided".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a decision was made" is that of a passive voice construction. It describes an action (making a decision) where the recipient of the action (the decision) is emphasized over the actor (the one who decided). Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

45%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a decision was made" is a grammatically correct and very commonly used passive voice construction. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to report that a resolution has been reached, emphasizing the outcome rather than the actor. Its register ranges from neutral in news and scientific contexts to professional in business settings. When writing, consider using this phrase when the decision itself is more important than who made it, but be mindful of overusing the passive voice. For more direct language, explore active voice alternatives. Depending on the context, consider phrases like "a choice was reached" or "it was resolved".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a choice was reached

This alternative focuses on the culmination of the decision-making process, emphasizing the final selection.

a determination was reached

This phrase emphasizes the resolute nature of the decision, highlighting that a firm conclusion has been established.

an agreement was reached

This alternative implies consensus or mutual consent in the decision-making process.

a resolution was adopted

This suggests a more formal or official acceptance of the decision, often in a structured setting.

a conclusion was drawn

This alternative indicates that the decision stemmed from a process of reasoning or deduction.

it was resolved

This is a more concise way of saying a decision was made. It's more direct and less formal.

it was determined

This phrase highlights that the decision came about because something was established as a result of investigation or research.

it was concluded

This alternative emphasizes the ending point of a deliberation or investigation process.

the call was made

This is a more colloquial way to say a decision was made. It's mostly used in informal settings.

the matter was settled

This suggests that a dispute or uncertainty has been resolved through the decision.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a decision was made" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "a determination was reached" or "a resolution was adopted", which imply a more structured or official process.

What are some less formal alternatives to "a decision was made"?

If you're aiming for a more casual tone, you could say "the call was made" or "it was resolved". These options are more direct and less stuffy.

In what situations is it best to use the passive voice "a decision was made"?

The passive voice is useful when you want to focus on the decision itself rather than who made it, or when the actor is unknown or unimportant. For example, in a news report, you might say "a decision was made to close the road" without specifying who made that decision.

Is there a difference between "a decision was made" and "a decision was undertaken"?

While both phrases imply a decision occurred, "a decision was undertaken" is less common and can sound slightly awkward. "A decision was made" is generally the preferred and more natural choice.