be decided until

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be decided until" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misconstruction and may not convey a clear meaning without additional context. Example: "The outcome will not be decided until the final vote is counted."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Nothing official is likely to be decided until after that game.

The New York Times - Sports

"This nomination will not be decided until the fourth quarter — and that is not until June".

The New York Times

But this thing isn't going to be decided until the last game of the season".

The New York Times - Sports

I don't think it will be decided until the play is actually open.

The Guardian

Moreover, some of the most contentious issues have been split off and will not be decided until next year.

The Economist

Mr. Macmillan believed that the Skybolt issue would not be decided until consultations here had been completed.

The New York Times

Exactly what the demonstrations will look like, however, won't be decided until the opening rally Tuesday night.

The New York Times

RICHARDSON DECISION NEAR: Nolan Richardson's future as basketball coach at Arkansas will not be decided until today at the earliest.

The New York Times - Sports

The final quota for the cod catch will not be decided until January, in talks with Norway.

The Guardian

The roster will not be decided until early next month, shortly before the 76-game season begins June 18.

The New York Times - Sports

That may not be decided until the conference's final game tomorrow afternoon between the Hoyas and the Fighting Irish.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider revising the sentence to use a more direct construction. For example, instead of "The matter will not be decided until next week", write "The matter will be decided next week".

Common error

Avoid implying a causal link where one doesn't exist. The phrase "be decided until" can suggest the passage of time directly causes the decision, rather than it simply occurring later. Ensure the context clarifies the true reason for the delay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be decided until" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that a resolution or determination is pending and will occur at a later time. Although widely used, Ludwig AI considers this phrasing incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "be decided until" is frequently used, especially in news and media contexts, it's important to note that Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect. This suggests a potential awkwardness in its construction. When writing, prioritize clarity and precision. Consider alternatives such as "be determined by" or "remain pending until" to ensure your message is both accurate and grammatically sound. While the frequency of usage is high, adhering to stricter grammatical standards can enhance the quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be determined by

Replaces "decided" with "determined", focusing on the factors influencing the outcome rather than the timing.

be resolved by

Substitutes "decided" with "resolved", emphasizing the settling of a matter rather than a simple decision.

be settled by

Replaces "decided" with "settled", stressing the conclusive nature of the resolution.

not be known before

Rephrases the idea to focus on the point in time before which the decision is uncertain.

remain pending until

Highlights the state of being undecided and the delay until a specific time.

hinge on

Replaces the entire phrase with an idiom that means the decision depends entirely on a future event.

depend on

Similar to 'hinge on', but less idiomatic, focusing on the dependency of the decision.

await a decision until

Shifts the focus to the act of waiting for a decision at a later time.

be contingent upon

Emphasizes that the decision is conditional and will occur only if certain future events take place.

be subject to

Indicates the decision is conditional to a future event.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "be decided until" to sound more natural?

Consider using alternatives like "be determined by", "be resolved by", or "remain pending until" for clarity.

What's a more formal way to say a decision is pending?

In formal contexts, phrases like "be contingent upon" or "be subject to" provide a more sophisticated tone compared to "be decided until".

Is "be decided until" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, "be decided until" can sound awkward. It's often better to rephrase for clarity and grammatical precision. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect.

How does context influence the best alternative to "be decided until"?

The best alternative depends on whether you want to emphasize the influence of future events (e.g., "depend on"), the act of waiting (e.g., "await a decision until"), or the conclusive resolution (e.g., "be settled by").