decide upon whether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decide upon whether" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you are considering or deliberating on a particular choice or option between two or more possibilities. Example: "Before we move forward with the project, we need to decide upon whether to allocate more resources or stick to the original plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"We have 60 days to decide upon whether we will appeal, and we are in the process of assessing our options," said H.D. Palmer, deputy director of external affairs for the department.

Los Angeles Times

They consist of the ability to wage war, dictate U.S. foreign policy, decide upon whether or not to confront Wall Street or bailout banks, and if we're to embark upon unfair trade deals or colossal oil pipelines.

Huffington Post

Your bid has to be accurate, exact, on their requested points and provide your answers so that the customer can decide upon whether to award the work to you.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Cost-effectiveness analysis is a valuable tool in deciding upon whether to have a product reimbursed or not.

Health Economics Review

The facts are: 1) accepting new requests without impacting accepted requests, 2) mapping various user requests with different QoS parameters to VMs, 3) deciding upon whether the new request should be assigned to available resources or new VM must be initiated.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

These findings are important for practitioners to consider when deciding upon whether to introduce aromatherapy.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

40 In deciding upon whether to have a patient rely on self-monitoring of blood glucose or employ continuous glucose monitoring, it is important to differentiate what each method provides.

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy

Ultimately, the patient as a whole must be considered in order to decide upon proceeding with surgery and whether additional measures such as a cranioplasty or skin grafting would be required.

BioMed Research International

Decide upon which recipes you want and whether you will go international or simply make several items with various methods.

WikiHow

Decide upon your design.

WikiHow

Decide upon your team.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use alternatives such as "determine whether" in formal context.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "decide upon whether" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "decide if" or "determine whether" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decide upon whether" functions as a connector, introducing a clause that presents a choice or alternative to be considered. It indicates a deliberation process before making a decision, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decide upon whether" is grammatically correct but relatively uncommon, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its usage, as illustrated by the Ludwig examples, spans various contexts including Wiki articles, scientific papers, and news reports, and it serves to introduce a choice or alternatives. While acceptable, it leans toward a more formal register and can often be replaced by simpler alternatives like "determine whether" or "decide if" for clearer, more concise communication. Therefore, while valid, writers should consider the context and audience when choosing to use "decide upon whether".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine whether

This alternative offers a more formal and direct way of expressing the action of deciding.

determine if

A more concise and commonly used substitute for "determine whether".

ascertain whether

Implies a more careful and thorough investigation before making a decision.

resolve whether

Focuses on settling a question or doubt, often implying a formal decision.

choose whether

Directly refers to making a selection between options.

establish whether

Emphasizes the act of proving or confirming something before deciding.

consider whether

Highlights the process of thinking about the options before deciding.

assess whether

Implies evaluating the situation or options before deciding.

figure out whether

A more informal way of saying "determine whether".

make a decision whether

More verbose, emphasizing the act of making a decision.

FAQs

What does "decide upon whether" mean?

The phrase "decide upon whether" means to make a choice or determination concerning two or more options. It indicates a process of deliberation and selection.

How can I use "decide upon whether" in a sentence?

You can use "decide upon whether" to indicate a choice that needs to be made. For example, "We need to "determine whether" to proceed with the project or postpone it."

What are some alternatives to "decide upon whether"?

Some alternatives to "decide upon whether" include "determine whether", "ascertain whether", or simply "decide if", depending on the context.

Is it more correct to say "decide whether" or "decide upon whether"?

Both "decide whether" and "decide upon whether" are grammatically acceptable, but "decide whether" is more common and generally preferred in modern English. The addition of "upon" adds a slight formality but isn't always necessary.