decide on something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decide on something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the act of making a choice or reaching a conclusion about a particular matter. Example: "After much discussion, we finally decided on a location for the conference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

You can't as one country decide on something for the whole of Europe".

Huffington Post

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Vice

"We decide on something, leave it lying around and wait and see what happens," he explained.

The Economist

And there's something delightfully frantic about shopping and knowing you only have 48 hours to decide on something you see.

The New York Times

The Violence Against Women Act was renewed, but only after a majority of Republicans voted against it, a rare instance of letting the full House decide on something that the public favors.

The New York Times

Jean-Claude Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg and the EU's longest-serving head of government, explains: "We decide on something, leave it lying around and wait and see what happens.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Not making an effort when deciding on something may be a kind of mental survival strategy.

Forbes

It makes better sense to use your gut when deciding on something you know a lot about.

Forbes

Eventually, they decided on something classic, full-length, very simple, skimming Nola's figure without hugging it.

The New Yorker

For all the excellence on both sides, a Test series could well be decided on something so uncontrollable.

The Guardian - Sport

For a while, he thought about calling the film "Permission to Engage," but ultimately decided on something more forceful: "Collateral Murder".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decide on something", ensure the context clearly indicates what options were available before the decision was made. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "decide on something" when a simpler verb like "choose" or "select" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decide on something" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of making a choice or reaching a conclusion. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts, highlighting its versatility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decide on something" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for indicating the action of making a choice. While Ludwig identifies it as "Correct", its frequency is only "Uncommon", suggesting that simpler alternatives might sometimes be preferred. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse communication settings. When incorporating it into your writing, ensure clarity about the available options and avoid overuse in scenarios where simpler verbs would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

settle on something

Replaces "decide" with "settle", implying a sense of finality or agreement.

determine something

Focuses on the act of establishing or ascertaining something definitively.

choose something

Simple alternative that emphasizes the selection process.

opt for something

Indicates a preference or selection from multiple options.

select something

Similar to "choose", but can imply a more formal or deliberate selection.

conclude on something

Implies a decision reached after some deliberation or discussion.

agree on something

Highlights the aspect of mutual consent or consensus in the decision.

resolve something

Focuses on making a firm decision to solve a problem.

pick something

An informal alternative to "choose", suggesting a quick selection.

fix on something

Suggests focusing on and deciding something with determination.

FAQs

What does "decide on something" mean?

The phrase "decide on something" means to choose or make a determination about a particular thing after considering various options.

How can I use "decide on something" in a sentence?

You can use "decide on something" in sentences like: "After reviewing all proposals, the committee will "settle on something" by next week".

What are some alternatives to "decide on something"?

Alternatives to "decide on something" include "choose something", "select something", or "opt for something" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "decide on something" or "make a decision about something"?

"Decide on something" is often more concise and direct. "Make a decision about something" is also correct but can sometimes sound more formal or drawn-out.