a severe decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe decision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a decision that has serious or significant consequences. Example: "After much deliberation, the board came to a severe decision regarding the company's future direction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The sending-off of Milne that led to Celtic's third goal was a severe decision because Vennegoor of Hesselink could not be said to have been denied a clear scoring opportunity.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Taking a position of either the former or the latter perspective might lead to irresponsible conduct and severe decisions.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Yet, LPFC lesions do not appear to cause severe decision-making deficits, thus it remains unclear how reward representations in LPFC contribute to goal-directed behavior.

Behavioral Neuroscience

This patient had a severe coagulopathy and the decision was made to use a flexible bronchoscope in order to avoid further trauma and potential bleeding from the continued use of a rigid device.

BMC Anesthesiology

Nevertheless, Klopp's decision is a severe setback to Mignolet who, barring a brief spell out of the team under Brendan Rodgers, has been established as the first-choice goalkeeper at Anfield since arriving from Sunderland three years ago.

The Guardian - Sport

The decision was a severe blow to the Department of the Interior's hope of creating a viable population of grey wolves, which have been on the endangered-species list almost everywhere in the United States since 1978.

The Economist

The decision is a severe blow to a case brought in 1999 by some of the nation's most prominent antitrust lawyers, who accused the Monsanto Company and other big agricultural seed makers of trying to control the booming market in genetically altered seeds in the 1990's.

The New York Times

"Today's decision is a severe blow to the free and open internet," she said.

TechCrunch

McIlroy pulled out midway through the second round in Florida and then blamed his decision on a severe toothache.

BBC

For achieving a low bit error rate (BER) over a severe ISI channel, the double decision feedback equalization is designed for MLTC-CPFSK system [10 12].

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

So the prefrontal cortex is at a severe disadvantage in contributing to decision making, because the information it receives is "old news," secondhand and tainted by emotions.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a severe decision", ensure the context clearly reflects the gravity or potential negative consequences of the decision. Consider whether a more specific adjective might better convey the intended nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "a severe decision" to describe routine or inconsequential choices. The word "severe" implies seriousness, so reserve it for situations where the stakes are genuinely high.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe decision" functions as a noun phrase, where "severe" modifies the noun "decision". It indicates the nature or quality of the decision, emphasizing its gravity and potential consequences. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

56%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a severe decision" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe a choice with significant, potentially negative, consequences. Although Ludwig's analysis indicates the phrase is relatively rare, its presence in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, shows it's a valid and impactful way to communicate seriousness. Alternatives such as "a critical decision" or "a grave decision" offer nuanced options to convey the intended meaning. Remember, using "a severe decision" is most effective when the situation warrants the emphasis on the decision's potential for harsh outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a critical decision

Replaces "severe" with "critical", emphasizing the importance and potential consequences of the decision.

a grave decision

Substitutes "severe" with "grave", highlighting the seriousness and potential for negative outcomes.

a weighty decision

Replaces "severe" with "weighty", focusing on the burden and responsibility associated with the decision.

a drastic decision

Uses "drastic" instead of "severe", suggesting a decision that involves extreme measures or significant change.

a consequential decision

Replaces "severe" with "consequential", highlighting the significant effects that will follow the decision.

a momentous decision

Substitutes "severe" with "momentous", emphasizing the historical importance or long-lasting impact of the decision.

a far-reaching decision

Replaces "severe" with "far-reaching", focusing on the wide scope of influence of the decision.

a stern decision

Uses "stern" instead of "severe", suggesting a firm and uncompromising decision.

a difficult decision

Replaces "severe" with "difficult", highlighting the challenge and complexity involved in making the decision.

a tough decision

Substitutes "severe" with "tough", emphasizing the demanding nature and potential for unpleasant consequences.

FAQs

What does "a severe decision" mean?

The phrase "a severe decision" refers to a choice or determination that carries significant weight, often with potentially negative or difficult consequences. It implies the decision is not taken lightly and has a serious impact.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a severe decision"?

Use "a severe decision" when describing a choice that has significant and possibly harsh repercussions. It's suitable when the decision is not easy and the outcome could be challenging or detrimental.

What can I say instead of "a severe decision"?

You can use alternatives like "a critical decision", "a grave decision", or "a difficult decision" depending on the specific context.

Is "a severe decision" different from "a difficult decision"?

While both phrases describe challenging choices, "a severe decision" emphasizes the potential for harsh or negative outcomes, whereas "a difficult decision" primarily highlights the complexity and effort involved in making the choice. Severity implies consequences; difficulty implies process.