decide on a ground

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decide on a ground" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where one is determining a basis or reason for a decision, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "Before we proceed, we need to decide on a ground for our argument."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He did not decide on a ground operation".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And there are only a few who dare to decide on such a ground'.

Environmental Management

"It is well established that a federal court should avoid resolution of constitutional questions when the case may be decided on a narrower ground," the documents read.

Huffington Post

If you want more buy-in, decide on the ground rules as a group – that way, you're creating ground rules based on what is most important to the group members.

WikiHow

This is good information for any kind of group meet: Decide on the ground rules, share them at the beginning of your event, and insist that all participants adhere to these guidelines.

WikiHow

Flaherty says the Supreme Court might be called on to rule but that they might refuse to decide on the grounds that it is a "political question".

Forbes

What reason cannot settle theoretically, she can nevertheless decide on "practical" grounds, i.e., deciding to believe one thing rather than another to preserve satisfaction (by contrast with anxiety and despair), and to give support to our sense that morality is not a figment.

SEP

The scientists published their first papers last year in two leading journals, Science and Nature, after agreeing to a voluntary moratorium on further research until governments and research organizations could decide on ground rules to protect the public.

The New York Times

"It's bringing decision makers together with the youth to all decide on this common ground for public spaces around the world," said Ms Winters.

BBC

In other words, we cannot decide between incommensurable values on moral grounds, so we should decide on prudential grounds.

SEP

Somatic (chronic) diseases will not be excluded either, as a considerable part of persons having IEI-EMF suffer from chronic diseases, 35 and at this stage it is not possible to decide on theoretical grounds which medical conditions should be included or excluded.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decide on a ground", ensure the "ground" is clearly defined and relevant to the decision-making context. For greater clarity, consider alternatives like "basis", "rationale", or "justification".

Common error

Avoid using "decide on a ground" if the reason for the decision is unclear or poorly defined. This can lead to confusion and weaken your argument. Instead, be explicit about the reason or basis for your decision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decide on a ground" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of making a decision based on a specific reason or justification. As noted by Ludwig AI, it isn't the most common expression and might benefit from clearer alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decide on a ground" means to make a decision based on a specific reason or justification. While grammatically correct, Ludwig AI indicates that it isn't a particularly common expression. Its communicative purpose is to explain the rationale behind a decision. While it is not incorrect, consider more common and explicit alternatives like "determine on what basis" or "choose based on a reason" to enhance clarity and ensure your writing resonates effectively. The phrase has a neutral register applicable across news, science, and general contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

choose based on a reason

Simplifies the phrase using more common vocabulary.

opt for a particular reason

Uses "opt for" as a synonym for "decide on", indicating a choice.

determine on what basis

Replaces "decide" with "determine" and "ground" with "basis", slightly more formal.

make a decision on a premise

Substitutes "ground" with "premise", highlighting the underlying assumption.

settle upon a rationale

Uses "settle upon" for "decide" and "rationale" for "ground", suggesting a reasoned justification.

resolve based on justification

Similar to 'settle upon a rationale' but leans towards a more definitive conclusion.

conclude for a specific justification

Implies a formal decision reached after considering a justification.

establish a foundation for deciding

Emphasizes creating a preliminary basis before deciding.

determine the reason for deciding

Focuses more on identifying the reason behind the decision-making process.

select based on a factor

Broadens the scope to any influential element for choosing.

FAQs

What does "decide on a ground" mean?

The phrase "decide on a ground" means to make a decision based on a specific reason, basis, or justification. It's about determining the fundamental reason behind a choice.

What can I say instead of "decide on a ground"?

You can use alternatives like "determine on what basis", "choose based on a reason", or "settle upon a rationale" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "decide on a ground"?

It's appropriate to use "decide on a ground" when you want to emphasize that a decision was made for a particular, well-defined reason. However, consider that other alternatives could provide greater clarity.

Is "decide on a ground" formal or informal?

The phrase "decide on a ground" leans toward the formal side, but it's not very common. Using synonyms like "determine the basis" or "establish the reason" might sound more natural.