cold calculation

USAGE SUMMARY

"cold calculation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the calculating of something in an unemotional and logical manner. For example: "He made a cold calculation and determined that the risk was too high to invest in the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They even have comparable mixes of bonhomie and cold calculation.

The New York Times

Cool or hot music, cold calculation or comfort.

The New York Times

"When I find him, I won't kill him right away," he says with cold calculation.

The Guardian - Film

Christianity stands firm in its diametric opposition to the cold calculation of who deserves what.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many remaining comments expressed outrage over the cold calculation used to appraise the girls.

The New York Times - Sports

Russia is driven less by nostalgic delusions than by cold calculation.

The Economist

Perhaps, in a more reticent age, he hesitated to describe such a cold calculation in print.

The New York Times - Science

It can emerge out of nothing more than the cold calculation of self-interest.

The Economist

That mix of cold calculation serving pure ideals is, of course, at the heart of "The West Wing".

The New York Times - Arts

Makes sense, because trade-offs and cold calculation are how big things (like defeating Hitler) get done.

The New York Times - Arts

But Atabay has an ability to shift without warning from cynicism to sentiment and from cold calculation to airy romance.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cold calculation" to describe decision-making processes that prioritize logic and efficiency over emotional considerations, especially in business, politics, or strategic planning.

Common error

Avoid using "cold calculation" to describe actions that are primarily driven by strong emotions like anger or grief. The phrase is better suited for scenarios where rational planning is evident.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cold calculation" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object, describing a manner of thinking or decision-making. As Ludwig AI shows, it describes the action of calculating in an unemotional and logical manner.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Cold calculation" is a noun phrase that describes unemotional, rational decision-making, as affirmed by Ludwig. It's frequently used in news and media, formal business contexts, and academic discussions to convey a sense of strategic thinking devoid of emotional influence. While grammatically correct and very common, it's essential to use the phrase appropriately, avoiding overuse in purely emotional contexts. Related phrases include "strategic assessment" and "dispassionate assessment", offering alternative ways to express similar ideas with subtle nuances. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability in formal written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dispassionate assessment

Stresses the lack of emotion in the evaluation process.

unsentimental evaluation

Emphasizes the lack of emotional attachment in the assessment.

rational evaluation

Highlights the logical and unbiased nature of the assessment.

pragmatic planning

Highlights the practical and realistic nature of the planning process.

strategic assessment

Focuses on the strategic aspect, implying a thorough evaluation of options and outcomes.

unemotional decision-making

Focuses on the absence of feelings influencing the choices made.

detached reasoning

Highlights the unbiased and impersonal nature of the reasoning process.

clinical analysis

Emphasizes the detached and objective nature of the analysis, similar to a medical diagnosis.

calculating move

Implies a planned action based on careful anticipation of outcomes.

ruthless efficiency

Suggests a single-minded focus on achieving goals, potentially at the expense of other considerations.

FAQs

How can "cold calculation" be used in a sentence?

"Cold calculation" is often used to describe strategic decision-making, for example: "The company's decision to downsize was a result of "cold calculation", prioritizing profit over employee well-being."

What phrases are similar in meaning to "cold calculation"?

Alternatives include "strategic assessment", "rational evaluation", or "dispassionate assessment", all implying a lack of emotional influence in decision-making.

Is "cold calculation" positive or negative?

The connotation depends on the context. It can be seen as positive when it implies rational and effective decision-making, or negative when it suggests a lack of empathy or moral consideration. The phrase can also be seen as an "unsentimental evaluation".

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "cold calculation"?

Use it when describing situations where decisions are made based on logical analysis rather than emotions, such as in business strategy, political maneuvering, or military planning. When you are doing "pragmatic planning".