by not choosing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by not choosing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a decision or consequence resulting from the act of not making a choice. Example: "By not choosing a side in the debate, she remained neutral and avoided conflict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

By not choosing either, it fell on difficult times.

Harvard Business Review

Why take the risk of getting ripped off by not choosing quality?

The Guardian - Money

The Democrats lost the election by not choosing someone with genuine conviction.

The Economist

With the world at his feet, Bernal surprised many by not choosing Hollywood.

Independent

After all, Madonna has demonstrated an admirable lack of vanity by not choosing to play Wallis Simpson herself.

The Guardian - Film

Ward added, however, that he did not think the Steelers intentionally slighted Roethlisberger by not choosing him as a captain.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Every time we make a choice in favor of something, we are by default not choosing something else.

Huffington Post

We as Christians, and as a society, seem to define womanhood by choosing or not choosing motherhood.

Huffington Post

Some ethical questions are raised by penalizing people for not choosing or for introducing monetary encouragement.

SEP

But those voting are often choosing the lesser of two evils, or indeed not choosing by not voting.

BBC

…By not choosing mutual fund share classes with a view to minimizing transaction and ongoing costs, and by failing to disclose that best execution would not be sought for mutual funds with multiple share classes available, [the adviser] failed to seek best execution on behalf of their individual advisory clients.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by not choosing" to clearly indicate that a particular outcome or consequence is a direct result of someone's decision to abstain from making a choice. For example, "By not choosing a specific investment strategy, they inadvertently adopted a more conservative approach".

Common error

Avoid assuming that all negative outcomes are solely attributable to "by not choosing". Recognize that external factors can also influence results, and ensure the sentence structure reflects this potential complexity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by not choosing" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a cause-and-effect relationship. It indicates that a specific outcome is a direct consequence of the act of not making a decision. As Ludwig AI shows, it is used in various contexts to highlight this connection.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by not choosing" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to express that a particular outcome is a result of someone's decision to abstain from making a choice. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is versatile and appears in various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. The related phrases offer alternative ways to express this concept, emphasizing different nuances of inaction or indecision. When using this phrase, it's important to be mindful of the scope of the consequence and to avoid assuming that all negative outcomes are solely attributable to the absence of a decision. Therefore, "by not choosing" serves as a potent reminder that even inaction can have significant and measurable effects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without making a selection

Focuses on the state of not having made a selection, without implying intent or consequence.

by refraining from decision

Highlights the act of holding back from making a decision.

due to failure to select

Highlights that not choosing is a failure to select an option.

through avoidance of selection

Emphasizes the active attempt to avoid making a selection.

through deliberate inaction

Emphasizes the intentional aspect of not acting, implying a conscious decision to avoid making a choice.

because of omitted choice

Focuses on the missing element of choice leading to a specific outcome.

as a consequence of indecision

Focuses on the outcome resulting from a lack of decision-making.

by default of non-selection

Indicates that the outcome is a result of the absence of a selection.

in the absence of a preference

Highlights that not choosing is tied to the lack of preference or indication.

through a lack of determination

Highlights that not choosing is due to not determining the options.

FAQs

What does "by not choosing" mean?

The phrase "by not choosing" means that a certain outcome or consequence occurs as a direct result of someone deciding to abstain from making a choice or decision.

How can I use "by not choosing" in a sentence?

You can use "by not choosing" to show a direct relationship between the absence of a decision and its consequences. For example: "By not choosing a side in the conflict, he alienated both parties."

What are some alternatives to "by not choosing"?

Some alternatives include "without making a selection", "through deliberate inaction", or "as a consequence of indecision" depending on the specific context.

Is it always negative to not choose?

Not necessarily. Sometimes "by not choosing", you might avoid negative consequences or maintain neutrality. The result depends entirely on the situation and the available options.