constrained choices

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "constrained choices" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe situations where options are limited or restricted in some way. Example: "In a market with few competitors, consumers often face constrained choices when selecting products."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Worse off with respect to their health were the women whose work pathway reflected the least autonomy, even within constrained choices: those women who experienced repeated bouts of unemployment while looking for full-time work.

The New York Times

Barnes discusses these women's decisions, despite their relative privilege, as constrained choices, and moving away from the stay-at-home/working mom dichotomy, identifies three categorical relationships with work employed by her study participants.

Yale University

Furthermore, females are also more likely to experience constrained choices around job search and job acceptance (Robst 2007).

IZA Journal of Migration

But they also came to expect a world of fluidity, constrained choices, "and endless regrets".

Huffington Post

Constrained choices about where individuals choose to live relative to health facilities may bias our estimates.

BMC Health Services Research

Overall, these findings could suggest that at this point in their lives dance is valued by girls as a physical and social activity when offered within the context of competing and constrained choices for spending leisure time at this age.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Many times it's about constrained choice.

Cornell University

Laffan said: "It's the politics of constrained choice.

The Guardian

This analysis presupposes that commuting represents what economists call a rational choice, as opposed to a constrained choice.

The New Yorker

It said pressure to hit the target had led DfID to change its spending plans with scant notice, "which constrained choice", adding: "Given the limited time available the department could only choose activities where funds could be paid out during 2013.

The Guardian

It constrained choice, and forced you to pay attention and look closely at the essay's titular object, a fish.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "constrained choices" to highlight situations where individuals or entities face limited options due to external factors, such as economic constraints, social pressures, or policy limitations.

Common error

Avoid using "constrained choices" when the limitations are self-imposed or simply reflect personal preferences. Ensure the context clearly indicates external constraints influencing the available options.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "constrained choices" functions as a noun phrase, where 'constrained' acts as an adjective modifying 'choices'. It describes a situation where the available options are limited or restricted due to external factors. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

16%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "constrained choices" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase that describes situations where options are limited or restricted. According to Ludwig, its usage is most common in science, news, and academic contexts. It is essential to use this phrase when highlighting external limitations influencing decision-making, rather than self-imposed preferences. Alternatives include "limited options" and "restricted alternatives". The high source quality and consistent usage, as shown by Ludwig, contribute to its reliability in formal and neutral registers. Remember to use it when you want to stress limited freedom of choice, and to avoid it when the choices are difficult but not scarce.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited options

Replaces "choices" with "options", emphasizing the restriction itself.

restricted alternatives

Substitutes "choices" with "alternatives", highlighting the scarcity of available paths.

narrowed selections

Emphasizes the act of reducing available options.

finite possibilities

Highlights the limited number of potential outcomes.

circumscribed decisions

Focuses on the limitations imposed on decision-making.

involuntary selections

Suggests the choices are not freely made.

compulsory options

Emphasizes the forced or required nature of the limited choices.

dictated selections

Highlights choices being determined by an external force.

controlled decisions

Focuses on the influence exerted on the decision-making process.

mandated alternatives

Suggests that the options are required by a mandate or rule.

FAQs

How can I use "constrained choices" in a sentence?

You can use "constrained choices" to describe situations where options are limited due to external factors. For example: "Due to budget cuts, the school district faces "constrained choices" regarding program offerings."

What are some alternatives to "constrained choices"?

Alternatives include "limited options", "restricted alternatives", or "narrowed selections", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "constrained choices" formal or informal?

"Constrained choices" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is more common in academic, news, and professional writing.

What's the difference between "constrained choices" and "difficult choices"?

"Constrained choices" implies that the range of options is limited, whereas "difficult choices" suggests that the options are plentiful but each has significant drawbacks. "Constrained choices" focuses on a lack of alternatives, while "difficult choices" emphasizes the challenging nature of selecting from available options.