a recent decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a recent decision" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a decision that has been made not long ago, often in contexts such as legal, business, or personal matters. Example: "The company announced a recent decision to expand its operations into new markets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A recent decision by the English court of Appeal focuses attention on this last question.

Cornell University

All of which makes a recent decision about executive pay at this giant retailer downright puzzling.

The New York Times

Campbell said Etherington had made a "recent" decision to return to Sydney with his family.

The Guardian

Candidates also were divided about a recent decision to allow noncitizens to vote in municipal elections.

The Washington Post

However, Reckless said it was a recent decision, and that was no longer his goal.

The Guardian

She praised Alameda County for a recent decision to stop imposing courtroom, probation and other fees.

The New York Times

A recent decision analysis supports the risk/benefit analysis of indomethacin in this setting.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

A recent decision to expedite permits for seasoned travellers from Mexico to Canada was seen as a mildly positive step.

The Economist

A recent decision in the United States shows that not everyone is willing to stop development of nuclear power plants.

The New York Times

Islamic rules forbid mixing of the sexes and, by a recent decision, women are banned from football matches.

Independent

The results of that approach will not be known for years, but a recent decision illustrates the risk.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a recent decision", ensure the context clearly indicates the timeframe considered recent. Providing specific dates or related events helps clarify the decision's relevance.

Common error

Avoid using "a recent decision" without specifying its impact or relevance. Always connect the decision to its consequences or the reasons behind it for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a recent decision" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It introduces a specific decision that has been made in the near past, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

18%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a recent decision" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase employed to denote a choice or determination made in the near past. As Ludwig AI points out, it is mostly used to communicate facts. Its neutral tone renders it suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in news, academic, and scientific domains. To ensure clarity, it is best practice to provide context, indicating the timeframe and relevance of the decision. While alternatives like "a new decision" or "a current decision" can be used, "a recent decision" remains a versatile and widely accepted option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a new decision

Replaces "recent" with "new", emphasizing the novelty of the decision.

a current decision

Substitutes "recent" with "current", focusing on the decision's present relevance.

a freshly made decision

Adds emphasis by using "freshly made", highlighting the immediacy of the decision.

a lately reached decision

Replaces "recent" with "lately reached", changing the syntax while maintaining the meaning.

a just-made decision

Uses "just-made" to indicate that the decision was made very recently.

a newly taken decision

Uses "newly taken" highlighting the immediacy of the decision.

a decision made recently

Reorders the words to place emphasis on the act of making the decision recently.

an immediate past decision

Replaces "recent" with "immediate past", offering a more formal tone.

a determination reached recently

Replaces "decision" with "determination", offering a more formal tone.

a choice made lately

Replaces "decision" with "choice", and "recent" with "lately", for a less formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "a recent decision" in a sentence?

You can use "a recent decision" to refer to a choice or determination made not long ago. For example, "The company announced a recent decision to expand its operations."

What are some alternatives to "a recent decision"?

Alternatives include "a new decision", "a current decision", or "a freshly made decision", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "a recent decision" in formal writing?

It's appropriate in any formal context, when you refer to a choice or determination that was made lately and you need to highlight that aspect. For example, when reporting facts related to a legal case or a business context.

Is "a recent decision" the same as "a final decision"?

No, "a recent decision" simply means a decision made not long ago, while "a final decision" implies that the decision is the last one and not subject to further changes.