can be decided upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be decided upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a decision is pending or that a matter is open for discussion and resolution. Example: "The final details of the project can be decided upon during the next meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

A cortisone cream is sometimes used to relieve the itching of vulvitis until a specific therapy can be decided upon.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"There is very little accountability right now as it relates to millions, if not tens of millions of dollars that can be decided upon almost unilaterally," he said.

The New York Times

This kind of involvement is closely tied to the convergence with informatics, which suggests that the instability caused by commodified mono-crops does not fall within the scope where priorities for 'debugging' can be decided upon in in synthetic biology.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

This understanding is necessary before any appropriate improvement intervention can be decided upon to improve system reliability and so mitigate risks and reduce the potential for patient harm.

BMC Medical Education

The concept of searching for cancer drugs through synthetic lethality seems to be more rewarding when either the assay (FOXO1a in PTEN−/−) or the potential target gene (mTOR in PTEN−/−) can be decided upon based on data mining and prior knowledge of the normal and tumourigenic biological system.

British Journal of Cancer

Before the game starts a stall count can be decided upon.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In the Netherlands, though, reporting can be decided locally upon consultation with the clinicians involved [10].

Autoimmunity Highlights

Which one applies depends on the anatomy of the lesion and can often only be decided upon during surgery.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

How can such conservation priors be decided upon, what are the data needed and what are the tools at hand to guide conservationists to optimal resource allocations?

Evolutionary Applications

(Note carefully that first the size of the tolerable error must be decided upon; only then can it be determined what it means to be "sufficiently close").

Encyclopedia Britannica

Outcomes therefore need to be decided upon upfront, to ensure that an informed sample size calculation can be made.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider whether an active voice construction (e.g., "we can decide on") might be more direct and concise in some contexts.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice, which can make your writing sound indirect or unclear. In many cases, you can rephrase sentences using an active voice to be more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be decided upon" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates the possibility of a decision being made by an unspecified agent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be decided upon" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive verb phrase. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to convey that a decision regarding a particular issue is still pending. While appropriate for various contexts, particularly in science, news, and encyclopedias, consider using more direct active voice phrasing for increased clarity and impact. Alternatives like "can be determined" or "remains to be determined" offer subtle variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be determined

Focuses on the ability to ascertain or establish something definitively.

can be resolved

Focuses on the possibility of finding a resolution to an issue.

is subject to determination

Emphasizes that a final decision still needs to be reached.

remains to be determined

Highlights the uncertainty and the need for future resolution.

is open to resolution

Stresses the possibility of finding a solution or agreement.

is yet to be finalized

Implies that the decision-making process is still ongoing.

is still under consideration

Indicates that the matter is being actively reviewed before a decision.

is subject to agreement

Highlights the need for mutual consent or consensus.

is negotiable

Suggests that the terms are open to discussion and compromise.

is up for debate

Emphasizes that the topic is still being discussed and argued.

FAQs

What does "can be decided upon" mean?

It means that a decision about something is still pending and has not yet been made. It suggests that the matter is open for discussion and resolution.

How can I use "can be decided upon" in a sentence?

You can use it to indicate that a choice or course of action is yet to be determined. For example: "The final budget allocations "can be decided upon" at the next meeting."

What are some alternatives to "can be decided upon"?

Alternatives include "can be determined", "is subject to determination", or "remains to be determined", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "can be decided upon" formal or informal?

It is generally considered neutral to formal. In very informal contexts, you might prefer a more direct phrasing like "we can decide" or "we'll figure it out".