decided for myself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'decided for myself' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you came to a conclusion on your own, without taking anyone else's opinion into account. For example, "I decided for myself that going to university was the right choice for me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"So then I decided for myself that television was not a good enough reason for me to race.

The Guardian - Sport

Because of how enigmatic he was, I had the freedom to play on what I had decided for myself would be his state of mind and body.

The New York Times

"I decided for myself to be a woman, to be a girl who will open eyes for other women, for other girls," she said.

The New York Times

I personally decided for myself that it was right for me to stay away from verification and not to participate in all these meetings.

The New Yorker

I thought, 'wow, if I hadn't put him in a box and decided for myself how he'd treat this, I could've spoken to him years ago.'".

Vice

I have started to reduce [my dose] not because somebody has told me to stop, no, I decided for myself.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

I decide for myself.

The Guardian

I like to decide for myself.

The New York Times

I had to decide for myself.

The Guardian - Books

Luckily, I have all the tools I need to decide for myself.

The Guardian

They just let me decide for myself and Bosnia was just inside my heart.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase, ensure that the context emphasizes personal autonomy and independent thought.

Common error

Avoid using "decided for myself" when the context already implies independent decision-making. Overusing it can make the writing sound redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decided for myself" functions as an intensifier, emphasizing that the decision was made independently and autonomously. As Ludwig examples show, it's often used to highlight personal agency and a lack of external influence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decided for myself" is a grammatically correct and useful expression to emphasize that a decision was made independently, without external influence. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides real-world examples from sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. While relatively uncommon, it effectively conveys personal autonomy and independent thought. When writing, use it judiciously to avoid redundancy, and ensure the context aligns with the intended meaning. You can use alternatives such as "determined on my own" and "made my own decision" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made my own decision

Highlights the act of choosing, emphasizing personal agency.

determined on my own

Emphasizes the act of figuring something out independently.

formed my own opinion

Emphasizes the development of a personal viewpoint.

reached my own conclusion

Focuses on the process of arriving at a belief or opinion.

concluded independently

Focuses on reaching a judgment or understanding separately from others.

came to my own understanding

Focuses on gaining a personal comprehension or insight.

personally resolved

Stresses the personal nature and finality of the decision.

judged independently

Stresses the act of making an unbiased evaluation.

assessed on my own

Highlights the independent evaluation or judgment.

opted by myself

Highlights the choice made alone, without external influence.

FAQs

How can I use "decided for myself" in a sentence?

You can use "decided for myself" to emphasize that a decision was made independently, as in, "After considering all the options, I "decided for myself" that this was the best course of action."

What are some alternatives to saying "decided for myself"?

Alternatives include "determined on my own", "concluded independently", or "made my own decision", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "I decided for myself"?

While not grammatically incorrect, using "decided for myself" can be redundant if the context already clearly implies that the decision was made independently. In such cases, simply saying "I decided" might be sufficient.

What's the difference between "decided for myself" and "someone decided for me"?

"Decided for myself" emphasizes personal autonomy and independent thought. In contrast, "someone decided for me" implies a lack of control and that a decision was imposed by another party.