a tough judgment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tough judgment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a difficult decision or evaluation that requires careful consideration. Example: "The committee faced a tough judgment when deciding on the winner of the competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

That's a tough judgment to make given that by law the budget must be "reasonable" and apply across the board to all students in the same degree program.

Yale University

Considering the setting — the C.I.A. lobby where several hundred agency employees greeted the vice president with cheers — Mr. Biden's remarks implied a tough judgment on parts of the agency's record under the previous administration.

The New York Times

There is a lot of problem-solving in my role, often with incomplete information, so it's frequently a tough judgment call.

Forbes

Did the officer act out of line or simply make a tough judgment call?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It was a really tough judgment call.

The New York Times

A trustee needs to be prepared to make tough judgment calls for which he or she can and will be held accountable.

Forbes

And if you don't have that, you have to make the tough judgment and the tough calls.

The New York Times

Medical practice is often about making tough judgment calls.

Forbes

But as the administrative adventure progresses, situations become more and more complex and personal (i.e. involving elements of family), appealing upon the player's humanity in making tough judgment calls.

Vice

A High Court judge issued a tough-worded judgment today supporting the British government's decision to release Gen. Augusto Pinochet and let him return home to Chile, but Belgium held up any final action by lodging an appeal against the ruling.

The New York Times

NHS managers and commissioners, confronted with the reality of austerity policies, have to make tough judgments.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a tough judgment", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being judged and why the judgment is difficult. Providing specific details will enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a tough judgment" for minor decisions or evaluations. Reserve it for situations where the complexity and potential consequences genuinely warrant a significant level of consideration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tough judgment" functions as a noun phrase, where "tough" modifies the noun "judgment". It describes the quality of the judgment being difficult or challenging. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"A tough judgment" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a difficult decision or evaluation. As Ludwig AI confirms, its frequency is uncommon, primarily appearing in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the difficulty of the judgment is evident and avoid overuse in trivial situations. Consider alternatives like "a difficult decision" or "a challenging assessment" for nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a difficult decision

Emphasizes the challenging nature of the decision itself.

a hard call

An informal way to describe a challenging decision.

a challenging assessment

Focuses on the difficulty of evaluating or assessing something.

a complex evaluation

Highlights the intricate nature of the evaluation process.

a weighty determination

Suggests the significance and impact of the judgment.

a critical appraisal

Emphasizes the importance and scrutiny involved in the assessment.

a demanding evaluation

Stresses the high level of effort and skill required for the evaluation.

a formidable decision

Highlights the challenging and potentially intimidating nature of the choice.

a taxing judgment

Focuses on the mental strain and effort required in making the judgment.

a trying verdict

Emphasizes the difficult and stressful nature of reaching a verdict or conclusion.

FAQs

What does "a tough judgment" mean?

The phrase "a tough judgment" refers to a difficult decision or evaluation that requires careful consideration due to its complexity or potential consequences. It implies that the decision is not straightforward and may involve weighing conflicting factors.

How can I use "a tough judgment" in a sentence?

You can use "a tough judgment" in sentences like: "The manager had to make "a tough judgment" about which employees to lay off" or "The jury faced "a tough judgment" in the controversial case".

What are some alternatives to "a tough judgment"?

Alternatives to "a tough judgment" include "a difficult decision", "a hard call", or "a challenging assessment". The best alternative depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "tough decision" or "tough judgment"?

Both "tough decision" and "tough judgment" are acceptable, but they have slightly different nuances. "Decision" emphasizes the act of choosing, while "judgment" implies a more formal evaluation or assessment. The choice depends on the specific context.