choice

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "choice" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a decision or an option. For example: "I had a choice of three different colors for my new shirt".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unlike the most reliable form of protection, a condom, it is the woman, not the man, who makes the ultimate choice about whether to use the gel.

The Economist

"I think it's for women to make a choice about what clothes they wish to wear, if they wish to wear a veil that is for a woman to make a choice.

The Guardian

Being able to live in a stable home is a basic human need, tied up with important feelings of choice and certainty, and we are living in a world now where only a few can hope for that, which cannot be right".

The Guardian - Business

Germany has a choice.

The New York Times

I had no choice.

The New York Times - Arts

We had no choice.

The New York Times - Sports

"They had no choice.

The New York Times - Tech

The message to the European court seemed clear – butt out of our business; if we want to bang people up for life that's our choice.

The Guardian

Analysts are in no doubt that the choice will be as definitive for the self-styled leader of Europe's anti-austerity movement, as the destiny of Greece itself.

The Guardian

Last year's choice of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in hindsight seems a similar act of wishful thinking.

The Guardian

A vote today between the status quo and leaving would be an entirely false choice".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "choice" to clearly indicate the availability of options or the act of selecting from them. Ensure the context makes it clear what the choices are.

Common error

Avoid using "choice" when you mean "chance". "Choice" implies a deliberate selection, whereas "chance" refers to a random possibility or probability.

Linguistic Context

The noun "choice" functions primarily to denote an option or a decision made from available possibilities. As Ludwig AI states, it indicates both the act of selecting and the thing selected. Examples from Ludwig show it in contexts like "make a choice", "have no choice", or "the best choice".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "choice" is a versatile noun, meaning both an option and the act of selecting. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It's very common, particularly in News & Media. When writing, use "choice" to indicate a deliberate selection, being mindful not to confuse it with "chance". Related terms include "option", "selection", and "alternative". Be certain that the surrounding context reflects the different nuance conveyed when using these alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

option

A synonym referring to a possibility or alternative.

selection

Emphasizes the act of choosing from a range of possibilities.

alternative

Highlights the availability of different possibilities.

preference

Focuses on a favored option or selection.

election

Refers to a formal selection process.

pick

Informal term for selecting something.

range of options

Highlights the variety of available choices.

course of action

Focuses on a decision related to a plan.

judgment

Emphasizes the cognitive process of choosing

freedom to choose

Highlights the ability to make a choice without constraint.

FAQs

How to use "choice" in a sentence?

You can use "choice" to indicate a decision, an option, or the act of selecting something. For example, "The menu offered a wide "range of choices"".

What can I say instead of "choice"?

You can use alternatives like "option", "selection", or "alternative" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "choice" or "chose"?

"Choice" is a noun, referring to the act of selecting or the options available. "Chose" is the past tense of the verb "choose", meaning to have selected. For example, "I made a "difficult choice"" versus "I chose the blue shirt".

What's the difference between "choice" and "preference"?

"Choice" refers to the act of selecting or the available options, while "preference" refers to a favored option or selection. You might have a "choice" between several options, but your "preference" is for one in particular.