decided to discover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decided to discover" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a choice or intention to explore or learn about something new. Example: "After much contemplation, she decided to discover the hidden trails in the national park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

PA decided to discover whether police forces had lost trace of registered sex offenders.

The Guardian

One GoPro user in Montreal, Canada decided to discover a new way of using the popular head-mounted camera by getting a squirrel's eye view on the world.

Independent

I was good at it, but I didn't find meaning in it, and so I decided to discover what else was out there.

The New York Times

It was therefore decided to discover how women living with this disorder would tell their life story.

Health SA Gesondheid

A few years ago, I decided to discover why some people regularly encounter such lucky opportunities, while others repeatedly sent $5 to untrustworthy sharks.

Forbes

And decided to discover why that was.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

After hearing rumours that make her "unsettled, disturbed inside", Tom's new wife, Carmen, decides to discover the truth.

The Guardian - Books

We had decided to learn and discover more about our city.

The Guardian - Travel

They decided to find out, and discovered that in some ways the satellite and surface trends roughly matched.

The New York Times - Science

I felt fooled, and I became angry and decided to learn by myself and discover".

The New Yorker

Despite this, I decided to see what I could discover over a single weekend during the off-season.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid redundancy, ensure that what is being "discovered" is genuinely new or unknown to the subject. Avoid using it for rediscovering something already known.

Common error

Avoid using "decided to discover" when the outcome is not a result of active exploration or investigation. For instance, avoid sentences like "He decided to discover he had won the lottery," as winning a lottery is a passive event, not a discovery.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decided to discover" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing the purpose or intention behind a decision. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, supported by examples across diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decided to discover" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to convey a conscious choice to explore or learn something new. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in news and media as well as scientific writing. While "decided to discover" isn't as frequent as other phrases, its neutrality and clear indication of intentional exploration make it a valuable tool for expressing purpose and direction in writing. When using this phrase, it's essential to ensure that the subject has the agency to actively explore and that the object of discovery is genuinely new or unknown.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resolved to explore

Replaces "decided" with "resolved", indicating a firmer commitment.

determined to investigate

Substitutes "discover" with "investigate", suggesting a more systematic inquiry.

chose to find out

Uses "chose" instead of "decided" and "find out" instead of "discover", resulting in a more informal tone.

opted to learn about

Replaces "discover" with "learn about", focusing on gaining knowledge.

made a decision to explore

Adds "made a decision" for emphasis, slightly increasing formality.

took the initiative to investigate

Highlights proactive behavior by using "took the initiative".

set out to uncover

Implies a journey or quest for revealing something hidden, using "set out".

felt compelled to research

Indicates an inner urge or necessity to investigate, using "felt compelled".

found it necessary to ascertain

Replaces "decided" with "found it necessary" and "discover" with "ascertain", increasing formality.

endeavored to unearth

Uses "endeavored" which means trying hard to do or achieve something, and "unearth", meaning to discover something by investigation.

FAQs

How can I use "decided to discover" in a sentence?

Use "decided to discover" to indicate a conscious choice to explore or learn something new. For instance, "After reading about the local history, she decided to discover the hidden parts of the town".

What are some alternatives to "decided to discover"?

You can use alternatives such as "chose to explore", "opted to investigate", or "resolved to find out" depending on the context.

Is "decided to discover" formal or informal?

"Decided to discover" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality largely depends on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "decided to discover" and "decided to learn"?

"Decided to discover" implies actively seeking out new information or experiences, while "decided to learn" focuses on acquiring knowledge through study or instruction. The choice depends on whether the emphasis is on exploration or formal learning.