are decided by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are decided by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a decision is made by a specific person or group. Example: "The final outcomes of the project are decided by the board of directors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cases are decided by simple majority.

The Economist

The exact charges are decided by the district attorney's office.

The Guardian

"Here our lives are decided by those in power.

The New York Times

U.S. presidential elections are decided by the Electoral College.

The New York Times

Important cases are decided by the entire body.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hate it when cup finals are decided by penalties.

The Guardian - Sport

Most regulatory issues are decided by the governors.

The New York Times

The type of awards are decided by the honours committee.

The Guardian

Some are decided by the government, some by parliament.

The Guardian

As we know, politics are decided by celebrities these days.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The excellent mechanical behaviors of in-situ WC are decided by its growth mechanism.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are decided by" to clearly indicate the entity or factors responsible for making a decision, ensuring clarity and accountability in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "are decided by" when the decision-making process is unclear or involves multiple influencing factors without a clear point of origin. Instead, consider alternatives like "are influenced by" or "depend on" if the decision is a result of many components.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are decided by" functions as a passive construction, indicating the agent or entity responsible for making a decision or determining an outcome. This is confirmed by Ludwig and can be observed in various examples where different kinds of decisions are attributed to various authorities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

23%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are decided by" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction for indicating the entity or factors responsible for making a decision. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase effectively assigns responsibility and clarifies the decision-making authority. It is prevalent in neutral registers, including news media, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure that the subject-verb agreement is correct and to avoid using it when the decision-making process is unclear. Alternatives like "are determined by" or "are influenced by" may be more appropriate in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are determined by

This alternative suggests a more factual or causal relationship in the decision-making process.

are influenced by

This indicates that the decision is affected but not necessarily fully controlled by the specified factors.

are governed by

This suggests a rules-based or regulated decision process.

are controlled by

This implies a direct and authoritative influence on the outcome.

are dictated by

This suggests a strong, often unavoidable influence.

hinge on

This highlights the critical dependency of the outcome on specific factors.

depend on

This shows a reliance of the result on certain conditions.

rest on

Similar to 'depend on', but emphasizes the foundational aspect of the influencing factors.

are subject to

This indicates that the decisions are under the authority or influence of something else.

are up to

This puts the responsibility and decision-making power directly on the mentioned entity.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "are decided by" to sound more formal?

Consider using phrases such as "are determined by" or "are governed by" to convey a more formal tone.

Is there a difference between "are decided by" and "are influenced by"?

"Are decided by" indicates a direct decision-making authority, whereas "are influenced by" suggests that decisions are affected but not necessarily controlled by the influencing factor.

What are some common grammatical errors when using "are decided by"?

A common error is using singular verbs with plural subjects (e.g., "the outcomes is decided by"). Ensure subject-verb agreement by using "are" with plural subjects.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "are decided by"?

Avoid using "are decided by" when the decision-making process is ambiguous or multifaceted. In such cases, phrases like "depend on" or "rest on" might be more fitting.