decided to commence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decided to commence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a choice to start or initiate an action or process. Example: "After much deliberation, the committee decided to commence the new project next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"Alibaba Group has decided to commence the process of an initial public offering in the United States," the company said.

The Guardian - Business

"Alibaba Group has decided to commence the process of an initial public offering in the United States," the company said in a statement.

The Guardian - Business

But in 2012 after nearly 40 years in the armed forces, Catherine, then living as Malcolm, decided to commence gender reassignment.

The Guardian

"Following preliminary investigations, the F.S.A. has decided to commence a formal enforcement investigation into Goldman Sachs International in relation to recent S.E.C. allegations," the regulator said in a two-sentence statement, referring to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The New York Times

After three years of production, oil production declined rapidly and it was decided to commence waterflooding.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

For the six errors, it was decided to commence with three alternatives to account for every error: in-vehicle, infrastructural, and co-operative vehicle-infrastructural alternatives [12].

European Transport Research Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

If a customer complainant decides to commence court proceedings in his or her home jurisdiction, the enterprise may still reduce the cost of dispute resolution by seeking to resolve the dispute through ADR.

Harvard University

Investigators could recommend that participants in any assigned group commence continuous ART at any time, and participants could independently decide to commence continuous ART for any reason.

Plosone

A) 5-day chlordiazepoxide reducing regime (starting at 20 mg qds) B) Monitoring of observations but no medication C) Chlordiazepoxide prn D) No treatment required E) 3-day chlordiazopoxide reducing regime (starting at 10 mg qds) You decide to commence a chlordiazepoxide reducing regime and prescribe 20 mg qds.

BMC Medical Education

The polling allows the Python script to decide when to commence a next round of an encryption operation, continue a function, or halt the system.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Given that social anxiety may play a role in an individual deciding not to commence or continue residential treatment, it is argued e.g., [ 47] that addressing social anxiety symptoms prior to and/or at the early stages of treatment could improve treatment retention in individuals with comorbid social anxiety and substance misuse problems.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you aim to convey a sense of formality and intention to start something, "decided to commence" is very effective.

Common error

Avoid using "decided to commence" in informal contexts. Simpler alternatives like "decided to start" or "chose to begin" are more appropriate for casual conversations and less formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decided to commence" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past decision to initiate an action or process. Ludwig shows examples where it introduces formal announcements or planned procedures, emphasizing a conscious and deliberate choice.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decided to commence" is a verb phrase used to formally announce the start of an action or process. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and primarily appears in news, science, and academic contexts. While not as common as simpler alternatives like "decided to start", it adds a level of formality and intention to your writing. When aiming for a sophisticated and considered tone, "decided to commence" can be an effective choice, but it is essential to reserve its usage for formal writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chose to begin

Replaces "decided" with "chose" and "commence" with "begin", offering a slightly less formal alternative.

opted to start

Substitutes "decided" with "opted" and "commence" with "start", providing a more straightforward and common phrasing.

resolved to initiate

Replaces "decided" with "resolved", which indicate a firm decision. Also replaces "commence" with "initiate", maintaining a formal tone.

determined to undertake

Emphasizes the firm decision to undertake an action, using a slightly more formal and active verb.

elected to launch

Suggests a formal selection of an action and replaces "commence" with "launch".

agreed to initiate

Implies a consensus or agreement preceding the decision to start something.

made the decision to begin

Expands the phrase to emphasize the act of making a decision before starting.

took the decision to start

Focuses on the act of taking or making the decision prior to beginning an action.

concluded to begin

Indicates a decision reached after some deliberation. Similar to "decided to commence", but with a nuance of finality.

determined to proceed with

Focuses on the determination to move forward with a particular course of action.

FAQs

What does "decided to commence" mean?

The phrase "decided to commence" means to have made a choice or resolution to begin or start something, often implying a formal or deliberate initiation.

When is it appropriate to use "decided to commence"?

It's most appropriate in formal or professional contexts where you want to convey a sense of deliberation and intention. In casual conversation, simpler alternatives are usually preferred.

What are some alternatives to "decided to commence"?

You can use alternatives like "chose to begin", "opted to start", or "resolved to initiate" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "decided to commence" too formal for everyday use?

Yes, in most everyday situations, "decided to start" or similar phrases are more natural. "Decided to commence" is better suited for formal writing or speech.