decide for himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decide for himself" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means that someone is making a choice or decision independently without influence from others. Example: After much thought and consideration, he decided to quit his job and pursue his dream of traveling the world for himself.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Each must decide for himself.

The New York Times - Sports

The idea that an individual should collect evidence and decide for himself is anathema.

The New Yorker

As it stands, each man must decide for himself how he wants to play the odds.

The New York Times - Magazine

Each person had to decide for himself whether or not he wanted to be initiated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The boy could decide for himself, later, if he wanted to be circumcised.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ribéry cannot simply decide for himself whether he wants to play for France or not".

The Guardian - Sport

Free to decide for himself having turned 18, William was allowed to return home in March.

The Guardian

He told DeNino that he would have to decide for himself what to do.

The New York Times - Magazine

She said he needed to decide for himself if he should step down.

The Guardian

OK, eventually he can decide for himself and, if he wants, change his allegiance.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Characteristically, Ben decided for himself that it had to stop.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "decide for himself" when you want to emphasize someone's autonomy and freedom in making a personal choice. It highlights that the decision is based on their own judgment, not influenced by others.

Common error

Avoid using "decide for theirself" or "decide for themself" when referring to a single male individual. "Decide for himself" is the correct form for a male subject. Ensure pronoun agreement to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decide for himself" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the ability of a male individual to make an autonomous choice or judgment. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage, evident in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decide for himself" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to denote a male individual's autonomous decision-making process. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's prevalent across diverse contexts, especially in News & Media. While generally neutral in tone, context can influence its formality. To ensure correctness, remember to use it specifically for male subjects, avoiding gender-neutral or plural pronouns in its place. For more formal contexts, you might consider alternatives like "make his own decision" or "determine for himself".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make his own decision

Focuses on the act of making a decision independently.

decide on his own

Emphasizes the absence of external influence.

determine for himself

Emphasizes the process of figuring something out on one's own.

choose for himself

Highlights the element of personal selection.

come to his own decision

Emphasizes the process of arrival to a decision independently.

reach his own conclusion

Stresses the individual's independent judgment.

form his own opinion

Focuses on developing a personal viewpoint.

judge for himself

Highlights personal assessment and evaluation.

figure it out himself

Focuses on the act of understand something without help.

assess for himself

Highlights self-reliant assesment.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "decide for himself" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, you might use alternatives like "make his own decision" or "determine for himself" to maintain a level of autonomy while sounding more refined.

When is it appropriate to use "decide for himself"?

Use "decide for himself" when you want to emphasize a male individual's independence and autonomy in making a choice, free from external influence or coercion.

What is the difference between "decide for himself" and "decide for themselves"?

"Decide for himself" refers to a single male individual making a decision. "Decide for themselves" refers to multiple individuals or a single individual using gender-neutral pronouns.

Are there any negative connotations associated with "decide for himself"?

No, "decide for himself" generally does not carry negative connotations. It simply implies personal autonomy and the freedom to make individual choices.