decided in advance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decided in advance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a decision has been made prior to a certain point in time or event. Example: "The agenda for the meeting was decided in advance to ensure a smooth discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"With this film, everything had to be decided in advance".

The Guardian - Film

Having decided in advance to back Bryan, he switched sides every time Bryan did.

The New Yorker

LeVine, on the other hand, decided in advance that she would swear on an e-reader.

The New Yorker

In other words, the scale of the war will not be decided in advance.

The New York Times

They formed a cartel and decided, in advance, which of them would win a particular deal.

The New York Times

Trump said on Monday Democrats had decided in advance not to applaud.

The Washington Post

Trump said Monday that Democrats had decided in advance not to applaud.

The Washington Post

Its outcomes, decided in advance by the leadership, will not be properly known until the middle of November.

The Guardian

It's a snapshot of the city, it's more diverse because they hadn't decided in advance what they wanted".

The Guardian

It means public consultation exercises which are purely cosmetic and where the outcome has been decided in advance.

The Guardian - Opinion

But around two-thirds of the setlist has been decided in advance, and here's where he hits his stride.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decided in advance", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the decision and what the scope of the decision covers for clarity.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating the subject of what was "decided in advance". Without clear context, readers may misinterpret the extent of the pre-determined decision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decided in advance" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a decision was made at an earlier time. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use across diverse contexts, reflecting its broad applicability. Ludwig AI correctly identifies its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decided in advance" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to indicate that a decision has been made prior to a specific event or time. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its widespread usage across diverse fields, including news, science, and formal business contexts. The phrase conveys the idea of forethought and pre-planning, and while it can be considered neutral in register, it is versatile enough for both formal and informal writing. Similar phrases, such as "pre-planned" and "pre-arranged", offer alternative ways to express the same concept. When employing the phrase, clarity is essential to ensure the scope and subject of the decision are clearly understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pre-planned

Focuses on the planning aspect being completed beforehand.

pre-arranged

Emphasizes the arrangement or organization aspect done previously.

pre-determined

Highlights that the outcome was already established.

settled beforehand

Indicates a resolution or agreement reached earlier.

agreed upon in advance

Stresses the element of mutual agreement made ahead of time.

resolved ahead of time

Suggests that any issues were addressed and solved earlier.

established beforehand

Highlights the act of setting up or founding something in advance.

fixed in advance

Implies that something has been immutably set before a certain time.

planned ahead

Focuses on the act of planning with anticipation.

thought out beforehand

Suggests careful consideration and planning completed earlier.

FAQs

How can I use "decided in advance" in a sentence?

You can use "decided in advance" to indicate that a decision was made prior to a specific event or time. For example: "The menu was "decided in advance" to accommodate dietary restrictions."

What phrases are similar to "decided in advance"?

Similar phrases include "pre-planned", "pre-arranged", or "pre-determined", all suggesting that a decision was made earlier.

Is it better to say "decided in advance" or "pre-determined"?

Both "decided in advance" and "pre-determined" are acceptable, but "decided in advance" might sound less formal. The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

What is the difference between "decided in advance" and "considered in advance"?

"Decided in advance" means a firm decision was made. "Considered in advance" means something was thought about, but a final decision might not have been reached. It implies forethought but not necessarily resolution.