a substantive decision

USAGE SUMMARY

"a substantive decision" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a conclusive or authoritative decision. For example, "The board was tasked with making a substantive decision on the proposed budget cuts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

* The court could also punt, using legal technicalities to defer a substantive decision on the merits of the case to a later time.

The New York Times

Today's United States Supreme Court ruling bought some time for the court, which was reluctant to make a substantive decision by a narrow margin, split along ideological lines.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"This is more likely to be a crisis (and substantive decision) postponed, than a crisis avoided altogether," Alexander Kinmont, an equity strategist at Nikko Salomon Smith Barney in Tokyo, wrote recently.

The New York Times

Five countries (Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States) have permanent seats on the Security Council and can veto any substantive decisions.

The New York Times - Arts

Before Brown came to "The New Yorker," in 1992, there were no editorial meetings because the editor-in-chief made all substantive decisions regarding nonfiction pieces.

The New Yorker

The boon of inheriting a Conservative party so out of tune with modern Britain has been that simply declaring an interest in the environment, poverty, democracy, Africa or gender is enough to generate positive early headlines, while setting up policy commissions which handily kick all substantive decisions into touch for 18 months.

The Guardian - Opinion

But, she said, "I can say that the commission's donors do not have, and never have had, any input on any substantive decisions that we have made, whether it's regarding the number, schedule and format of the debates, who is invited to debate or any other substantive piece of our work".

The New York Times

At the beginning of the crisis the EOC made some decisions about planning and coordination of evacuations, supplies and shelters; but once the state of emergency was declared it no longer made any substantive decisions without the governor's consent.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

The process of creating a new department will almost certainly lead to the kind of inactivity that happens in a presidential election season: substantive decision making will likely be suspended while bureaucrats wait to get a sense of the lay of the land.

The New York Times

More disturbing, though, is the court's substantive decision and the way the Justice Department is interpreting it.

The New York Times

"From this point on, virtually every substantive decision is guaranteed to displease someone," said William Rodgers, Newtown's second selectman and a nonvoting director of the Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation, which was set up to disburse the $10.2 million.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a substantive decision" when you want to emphasize that the decision is not superficial or trivial, but rather has real and measurable consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantive decision" when you actually mean a subjective or personal choice. "Substantive" implies objectivity and significance beyond personal preference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantive decision" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'substantive' modifies the noun 'decision'. It describes a decision that is significant, well-reasoned, and impactful. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of the phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantive decision" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, denoting a significant and impactful choice. As verified by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media and scientific domains, though less frequent than simpler alternatives. When using this phrase, ensure that the decision is not superficial but carries real weight and is based on sound reasoning. Alternative phrases such as "a meaningful decision" or "a significant decision" can be used to convey similar meanings, with slight variations in emphasis. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, its precise nature often makes it more appropriate for formal and professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a meaningful decision

Replaces "substantive" with "meaningful", focusing on the importance or significance of the decision.

a significant decision

Uses "significant" instead of "substantive", highlighting the importance and impact of the decision.

an impactful decision

Substitutes "substantive" with "impactful", emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of the decision.

a consequential decision

Replaces "substantive" with "consequential", pointing out that the decision has major results.

a critical decision

Uses "critical" to denote that the decision is essential and crucial.

a pivotal decision

Substitutes "substantive" with "pivotal", indicating that the decision marks a turning point.

a key decision

Replaces "substantive" with "key", underscoring the importance of the decision.

a weighty decision

Uses "weighty" to convey the seriousness and importance of the decision.

a far-reaching decision

Highlights the extensive and long-term effects of the decision.

a fundamental decision

Emphasizes that the decision is basic, essential, or foundational.

FAQs

How to use "a substantive decision" in a sentence?

You can use "a substantive decision" when referring to a significant or impactful choice. For example, "The board was tasked with making "a substantive decision" on the proposed budget cuts".

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

You can use alternatives like "a meaningful decision", "a significant decision", or "a critical decision" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a substantive decision" or "an important decision"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "A substantive decision" implies a well-reasoned, significant choice, while "an important decision" simply means the decision has importance. The nuance depends on the context.

What's the difference between "a substantive decision" and "a procedural decision"?

"A substantive decision" concerns the actual merits or content of the issue, while "a procedural decision" deals with the method or process by which a decision is made.