chose not to

USAGE SUMMARY

"chose not to" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate a decision not to do something. For example, "The student chose not to participate in the debate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

And I choose not 2 stop even 4 a day #twittersilence".

The Guardian - Tech

In the IG group, 31 of 174 (17.8%) chose not to have the 2-h 75-g OGTT.

Diabetes Care

At the subsequent evaluation, 76 potential participants were excluded: 33 chose not to participate, and 43 were judged ineligible.

British Medical Journal

Four out of 22 centres involved in the GONO-MIG1 study, which had enrolled 164 cases, chose not to participate in the HER2 study.

British Journal of Cancer

They just chose not to use "3.10" as their new number as Drupal or OS X would do.

Princeton University

The players chose not to receive 15% of April's wages as offered by the administrator Brendan Guilfoyle.

BBC

It is possible that Shulgin chose not to ingest MDMM4 due to its structural similarity to the endogenous neurotoxin salsolinol and so its activity remains unknown. .

Vice

It is possible that Shulgin chose not to ingest MDMM4 due to its structural similarity to the endogenous neurotoxin salsolinol and so its activity remains unknown.

Vice

Unlike the National Library of Medicine's MetaMap program [ 12] and MedLEE [ 20] we chose not to use the Unified Medical Language System [ 21] in order to minimise the size of our program.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Mr Adebowale, 22, who chose not to give evidence, and Michael Adebolajo, 29, deny murdering the soldier on 22 May.

BBC

I was advised that the original number was 3,500, so it seems 500 chose not to turn up.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "chose not to" to clearly indicate a deliberate decision against a particular action, especially when contrasting it with other possible choices or expectations.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "chose not to" can sometimes sound less formal than alternatives like "declined to" or "refused to", especially in professional or academic writing. Consider the context to maintain the appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chose not to" functions as a verb phrase indicating a deliberate decision to avoid a specific action or option. It demonstrates agency and intentionality in declining something, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "chose not to" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to express a deliberate decision against a particular action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and formality when choosing alternatives like "declined to" or "refused to", which may be more appropriate for professional or academic settings. The phrase is frequently found in news, scientific, and academic sources, indicating its broad applicability. Remember to use this phrase to clearly convey a conscious choice against a specific option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opted against

Implies a deliberate selection of an alternative, often after considering options.

declined to

Suggests a polite refusal or unwillingness to do something.

refused to

Indicates a firm and often explicit rejection of an offer or request.

elected not to

Highlights a formal or conscious decision to avoid a specific course of action.

preferred not to

Expresses a preference for avoiding something, implying an evaluation of alternatives.

decided against

Shows a resolution to not pursue a certain path or action.

passed on

Informal way of saying someone rejected or didn't take advantage of an opportunity.

avoided

Focuses on the act of preventing something from happening or being done.

abstained from

Commonly used in formal settings, suggesting a deliberate withholding of participation.

bypassed

Implies going around or ignoring a particular step or action.

FAQs

How can I use "chose not to" in a sentence?

You can use "chose not to" to indicate a deliberate decision to avoid a particular action. For example, "The committee "chose not to" implement the new policy this year."

What are some alternatives to "chose not to"?

Alternatives include "declined to", "refused to", or "opted against", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "chose not to" or "declined to"?

Declined to is generally considered more formal than "chose not to", making it suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What is the difference between "chose not to" and "decided not to"?

"Chose not to" emphasizes the selection of one option over another, whereas "decided not to" focuses on the resolution or determination to avoid something. In most cases, they are interchangeable, but "chose not to" carries a slightly stronger implication of active selection. You can use "decided not to" when you want to put more emphasis on the decision itself.