decided not to proceed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decided not to proceed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the decision to not do or continue with something. Here is an example sentence: After careful consideration, the board of directors decided not to proceed with the merger.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Senator Santorum has decided not to proceed with his campaign.

The New York Times

Following preliminary enquiries he decided not to proceed".

Independent

The studio decided not to proceed with it.

The Guardian - Books

But he had decided not to proceed with a lawsuit.

The New Yorker

The bank discussed a deal, but ultimately decided not to proceed.

The New Yorker

At my advice, the borrower decided not to proceed with this lender.

The New York Times

Dutton's statement on Saturday said Abyan had "decided not to proceed with the termination".

The Guardian

She "decided not to proceed with the termination," Dutton said on Saturday.

The Guardian

However, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with the case.

The Guardian

It decided not to proceed with the disciplinary process against him.

The Guardian

Accordingly, in the light of the board's response, Permira has decided not to proceed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "decided not to proceed" when a formal or deliberate decision has been made to stop an action or plan. It's suitable for business, legal, and general contexts where a clear decision-making process is relevant.

Common error

Avoid substituting "decided not to proceed" with vaguer phrases like "considered other options" when a clear decision has been made to halt an action. "Decided not to proceed" implies a definitive choice, while weaker alternatives can dilute the clarity and impact of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decided not to proceed" functions as a declarative statement indicating a decision has been made to halt an action or plan. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. Examples in Ludwig show its utility in conveying a conscious choice to discontinue.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decided not to proceed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a deliberate decision to stop an action or plan. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and broad applicability. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as formal business contexts, its purpose is to inform and convey a clear conclusion regarding a course of action. While generally neutral to professional in register, alternative phrases can offer varied emphasis and formality. The phrase serves as a concise way to communicate a strategic shift or project cancellation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opted against continuing

Replaces "decided" with "opted" and "proceed" with "continuing", emphasizing a choice against continuation.

chose not to go ahead

Substitutes "decided" with "chose" and uses "go ahead" in place of "proceed", focusing on the initial action.

elected to discontinue

Replaces "decided" with "elected", suggesting a more formal choice, and "proceed" with "discontinue", implying termination.

resolved to abandon

Replaces "decided not to" with "resolved to", adding a sense of firm decision to cease the action.

determined to halt

Emphasizes a firm decision to stop the progress, using "determined" instead of "decided" and "halt" instead of "proceed".

refrained from pursuing

Indicates a conscious choice to not chase a course of action, using "refrained from" to replace "decided not to" and "pursuing" instead of "proceed".

backed out of continuing

Emphasizes the action of withdrawing from something already started, using "backed out" to replace "decided not to proceed".

withdrew from undertaking

Implies formal removal from an endeavor, replacing "decided not to proceed" with "withdrew from undertaking".

ceased to advance

Indicates an end to the forward motion or progress, using "ceased to advance" in place of "decided not to proceed".

halted the continuation

Focuses on stopping the ongoing action, replacing "decided not to proceed" with "halted the continuation".

FAQs

What does "decided not to proceed" mean?

The phrase "decided not to proceed" means that a choice has been made to stop or abandon a planned action or activity. It indicates a deliberate decision to halt progress.

When is it appropriate to use "decided not to proceed"?

It is appropriate to use "decided not to proceed" when a formal decision has been made to stop an action, plan, or project. It suits formal and professional contexts where a clear decision-making process is involved.

What can I say instead of "decided not to proceed"?

You can use alternatives like "opted against continuing", "chose not to go ahead", or "elected to discontinue" depending on the context.

Is "decided not to proceed" formal or informal?

"Decided not to proceed" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase. While usable in informal settings, it is most common in business, legal, or news-related contexts. In more casual settings, phrases like "backed out of" might be more suitable.