a scandalous decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a scandalous decision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a decision that is shocking, morally wrong, or likely to cause public outrage. Example: "The board's choice to cut funding for the arts was seen as a scandalous decision by the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Netanyahu told him: "This is a scandalous decision.

The Guardian

Moyes, reflecting on the Young incident as a "scandalous" decision, made no attempt to conceal his frustration.

The Guardian - Sport

Paddy Ashdown, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, accused Mr Blair of a "scandalous" decision to proceed with Tory legislation, which he said sought to "deter asylum-seekers by treating them with a mixture of delay, penury and injustice".

The Economist

It's a scandalous decision.

BBC

A true gentleman of the ring, robbed of retiring with his titles intact by a scandalous decision by Harry Gibbs but Henry never showed a trace of bitterness.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Last week, John Thain, the last chairman and chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch before its merger with Bank of America, lost his job following an investigation into Merrill’s scandalous decision to pay billions of dollars in bonuses days before the closing of the deal.

Forbes

"We couldn't accept the federation's scandalous decision," said a Vergt committee man.

The Guardian - Sport

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, teachers' union, said: "It is no coincidence that the numbers of young people staying in education post-16 have fallen for the first time in a decade, a year on from the government's scandalous decision to axe the EMA".

BBC

Arsène Wenger blamed a "scandalous" penalty decision and his own team's lack of killer instinct for a damaging 2-1 defeat at Watford.

The Guardian - Sport

Another scandalous decision in this increasingly farcical World Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

"The mere scandalous decision to hold the winter games in one of the hot cities of Russia testifies somewhat to megalomania, but from here the problems only gradually piled up".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a scandalous decision", ensure the context clearly establishes the moral or ethical grounds for the scandal. Provide specific details about why the decision is considered outrageous to enhance the impact and credibility of your statement.

Common error

Avoid labeling a decision as "a scandalous decision" without providing clear reasons or evidence. Overusing strong language without proper support can weaken your argument and make your writing seem sensationalized rather than persuasive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a scandalous decision" functions as a noun phrase where "scandalous" modifies the noun "decision". It serves to attribute a quality of moral reprehensibility or shocking impropriety to the decision being referenced. Ludwig examples show this phrase used to describe decisions in various contexts, from politics to sports.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Sport

16%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Opinion

3%

Arts

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a scandalous decision" is a noun phrase used to express strong disapproval of a choice that is perceived as morally wrong or shocking. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, it appears primarily in news and media contexts, as demonstrated by the examples. When using the phrase, ensure that the context provides clear justification for labeling the decision as scandalous to avoid weakening your argument. Consider alternatives such as "an outrageous choice" or "an appalling judgment" for varying degrees of disapproval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an outrageous choice

Replaces "decision" with "choice" and "scandalous" with "outrageous", emphasizing the shocking nature of the decision.

an appalling judgment

Substitutes "decision" with "judgment" and "scandalous" with "appalling", highlighting the poor quality of the decision-making process.

a morally reprehensible determination

Replaces "scandalous" with the stronger "morally reprehensible" and "decision" with "determination", indicating a strong ethical disapproval.

a disgraceful act

Replaces "decision" with "act" and "scandalous" with "disgraceful", focusing on the shame associated with the decision.

an indefensible action

Shifts the focus to the lack of justification for the decision, using "indefensible" instead of "scandalous" and "action" instead of "decision".

a shocking verdict

Replaces "decision" with "verdict" and "scandalous" with "shocking", commonly used in legal or competitive contexts.

a controversial resolution

Replaces "scandalous" with "controversial" and "decision" with "resolution", emphasizing the division and disagreement it caused.

an unethical ruling

Replaces "scandalous" with "unethical" and "decision" with "ruling", directing attention to its lack of moral principles.

a reprehensible course of action

Emphasizes the planned nature of the scandalous act, using "course of action" instead of "decision" and "reprehensible" instead of "scandalous".

an egregious error in judgment

Highlights the magnitude of the mistake with "egregious" and uses "error in judgment" to soften the directness of "a scandalous decision".

FAQs

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

Use "a scandalous decision" to describe a choice that is shocking and morally wrong. For example: "The corporation's choice to evade taxes was "a scandalous decision" that sparked public outrage".

What's the difference between "a controversial decision" and "a scandalous decision"?

"A controversial decision" implies widespread disagreement, while "a scandalous decision" suggests moral outrage and potential illegality. The latter carries a stronger negative connotation.

What are some alternatives to "a scandalous decision"?

You can use alternatives like "an outrageous choice", "an appalling judgment", or "a morally reprehensible determination" to convey varying degrees of disapproval.

Is it appropriate to use "a scandalous decision" in formal writing?

While "a scandalous decision" can be used in formal writing, ensure the tone and context justify such strong language. In less severe cases, consider milder alternatives like "a controversial resolution" or "an unethical ruling".