a singular decision

USAGE SUMMARY

"a singular decision" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a decision that was made by one person, or a decision that was made with determination and confidence. For example, "The mayor made a singular decision to close the city's libraries until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Decision-making was not a singular decision, but rather involved many different steps.

BMC Medical Ethics

Considering different interventions and their associated risks, burdens and benefits was not a singular decision but rather an on-going process as the patient's condition changed and dependent upon their circumstances.

BMC Medical Ethics

(see Table 1).> Decision-making was not a singular decision about one method of artificial nutrition, but rather a process of problem-solving for patients who often had complex symptomatology and multiple co-morbidities.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Shen Buhai echoes Shen Dao: "He who is a singular decision-maker can become the sovereign of All under Heaven" (Creel 1974: 380, translation modified).

SEP

There was no White House debate about whether the bomb should be dropped, no singular decision to use it, no suggestion that it was an alternative to invasion.

The New Yorker

And in his acceptance speech at the Democratic convention in Charlotte, President Obama made this singular decision, faced by voters, the crucial theme of his speech: "When all is said and done, when you pick up that ballot to vote.

The Guardian - Opinion

Conservation tools have historically been oriented toward optimization for singular decision-makers.

Landscape and Urban Planning

The science of morality becomes closer to speculative theory because of the unerring process of determining singular decisions from universal commands.

SEP

A singular challenge with decision making in the Anthropocene is that many of the most important challenges we face are "wicked" problems.

Huffington Post

The approach described in this paper for studying faculty practice moves beyond a singular focus on individual decision-making and the role of isolated factors that shape practice to a more comprehensive accounting of organizational functions and the role of information storage and retrieval.

International Journal of STEM Education

While it is possible that the decision in Atkins v. Virginia marked a new direction for a court that has been notably deferential to the states on death penalty questions, it is just as likely that the decision was a singular response to a particularly unattractive feature of the death penalty in the United States.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a singular decision" to emphasize that a specific choice stands out from others due to its uniqueness, importance, or impact. This implies the decision is particularly noteworthy and not just a routine action.

Common error

Avoid using "singular" repeatedly in close proximity with synonyms like 'unique' or 'exceptional'. This can make your writing sound redundant and less impactful. Instead, vary your vocabulary to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a singular decision" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'singular' modifies the noun 'decision'. It specifies the decision as being unique, exceptional, or standing out from others. Ludwig examples confirm that it’s often used to emphasize the importance or impact of a specific decision.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a singular decision" is a grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize the uniqueness and importance of a particular choice. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to highlight the distinctiveness of a decision, making it suitable for neutral and slightly formal contexts, particularly in news and media or scientific discourse. While less frequent than other similar expressions, such as "a unique choice", it effectively conveys that a decision is noteworthy and stands apart. When using this phrase, avoid redundancy by varying your vocabulary and ensure the context warrants highlighting the exceptional nature of the decision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a unique choice

Replaces 'decision' with 'choice' emphasizing the act of selecting from options.

an exceptional decision

Substitutes 'singular' with 'exceptional', highlighting the outstanding nature of the decision.

a remarkable decision

Replaces 'singular' with 'remarkable', stressing the noteworthy quality of the decision.

an individual decision

Replaces 'singular' with 'individual' which emphasizes that the decision was made separately from others.

a distinctive decision

Changes 'singular' to 'distinctive', pointing out the characteristic and easily distinguishable nature of the decision.

a one-of-a-kind decision

Replaces 'singular' with 'one-of-a-kind', strongly emphasizing the uniqueness of the decision.

an unprecedented decision

Suggests the decision has no prior occurrence, indicating a groundbreaking choice.

a noteworthy decision

Replaces 'singular' with 'noteworthy', emphasizing the decision's importance and deserving of attention.

a peculiar decision

Implies the decision is unusual or strange, deviating from the norm.

a rare decision

Replaces 'singular' with 'rare' highlighting the infrequency of this kind of decision.

FAQs

How can "a singular decision" be used in a sentence?

You can use "a singular decision" to highlight a choice that stands out. For example: "The company's success was attributed to "a singular decision" made by the CEO."

What are some alternatives to "a singular decision"?

Alternatives include "a unique choice", "an exceptional decision", or "a remarkable decision", depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a singular decision" formal or informal?

"A singular decision" leans towards a neutral to formal register. It's appropriate for professional writing, news reports, and academic papers. Using it in casual conversation is acceptable but may sound slightly elevated.

What makes "a singular decision" different from "a typical decision"?

"A singular decision" implies that the decision is distinct and stands out. In contrast, "a typical decision" suggests a routine or common choice. The emphasis is on the uniqueness and impact of the "singular decision".