a deliberation on whether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a deliberation on whether" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a thoughtful consideration or discussion regarding a specific issue or decision. Example: "The committee held a deliberation on whether to approve the new policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

A deliberation on this is provided by Schuch (2011).

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

After a near-15 hour deliberation on whether Tsarnaev should be put to death or spend life in prison for his crime, the jury of seven women and five men in the high profile and protracted case returned to the court Friday afternoon to announce their decision.

Vice

In these cases -- in Africa -- there was no lengthy deliberation on whether a "coup" was a "military coup".

Huffington Post

But unlike previous dalliances, Mr. Trump's deliberation on whether to challenge Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat, would be far more than a public-relations trifle.

The New York Times

Last week, the state Supreme Court began deliberation on whether the state's charter school law is constitutional.

The New York Times

Only eight hours of deliberation on whether or not to hold these officers accountable is an insult, not only to Kelly Thomas, but to America's justice system that is supposed to be blind, unbiased and especially fair to the most vulnerable among us, even when the incident occurs in one of the most conservative districts in our country.

Huffington Post

Before the jury begins its deliberations on whether Mr. Quattrone's one-line e-mail message on Dec. 5, 2000, was an effort to obstruct a government investigation into First Boston's handling of initial stock offerings, Mr. Quattrone will have one more chance to make his case.

The New York Times

I am told that high-level deliberations on whether there should be a third runway at Heathrow have included discussion on the impact it would have on wellbeing.

BBC

But the remit for such referrals may be unclear if the referring psychiatrist does not include a risk assessment, which can guide the renal specialist in his deliberations on whether to continue lithium or not.

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

Dexter Filkins reports that President Obama, in his deliberations on whether to intervene in the Syrian conflict, chose to adopt a policy of restraint ("The Thin Red Line," May 13th).

The New Yorker

The US government this week enters the final stages of its deliberations on whether to allow commercial production of the GM fish, with a public consultation on the issue ending on Friday.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a deliberation on whether" when you want to emphasize a careful and thorough consideration of a particular question or decision. It is suitable for formal contexts where the process of thinking is important.

Common error

Avoid using "a deliberation on whether" in informal settings. Simpler phrases like "thinking about whether" or "discussing if" are more appropriate for casual conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a deliberation on whether" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically introducing a noun clause that expresses a question or a point of contention. It signifies the act of carefully considering and discussing the pros and cons before making a decision or reaching a conclusion. Ludwig indicates that it is grammatical.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a deliberation on whether" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce a formal and careful consideration of a question or decision. While grammatically correct, according to Ludwig, its usage is limited, as reflected in the missing examples, making it suited for more formal contexts where emphasis is placed on the process of thinking. Alternative phrases such as "a discussion about whether" or "a consideration of whether" may be more appropriate in less formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a discussion about whether

Replaces "deliberation" with the more common term "discussion", making it less formal.

a consideration of whether

Substitutes "deliberation" with "consideration", offering a slightly more neutral tone.

an examination of whether

Uses "examination" instead of "deliberation", implying a more detailed investigation.

an inquiry into whether

Replaces "deliberation" with "inquiry", suggesting a formal investigation or questioning.

a debate about whether

Emphasizes the argumentative nature of the consideration, replacing "deliberation" with "debate".

pondering whether

Shifts from a noun phrase to a verb, suggesting a more personal and reflective consideration.

weighing up whether

Uses the phrasal verb "weighing up", implying a careful assessment of different options.

assessing whether

Emphasizes the evaluation aspect, changing "deliberation" to "assessing".

evaluating whether

Similar to "assessing", but places greater emphasis on determining the value or significance.

contemplating whether

Suggests a more thoughtful and prolonged consideration, replacing "deliberation" with "contemplating".

FAQs

How can I use "a deliberation on whether" in a sentence?

You can use "a deliberation on whether" to introduce a question or issue that is being carefully considered. For example, "The committee engaged in a deliberation on whether to approve the proposed changes."

What can I say instead of "a deliberation on whether"?

You can use alternatives like "a discussion about whether", "a consideration of whether", or "an examination of whether" depending on the context.

Is "a deliberation on whether" formal or informal?

"A deliberation on whether" is generally considered a formal phrase. It is best suited for academic, professional, or official contexts.

What is the difference between "a deliberation on whether" and "thinking about whether"?

"A deliberation on whether" suggests a more formal and structured process of consideration, while "thinking about whether" is more informal and general.