decided to ground

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decided to ground" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a choice to stop or restrict something, often in a context related to aviation or technology. Example: "After reviewing the safety concerns, the airline decided to ground the fleet until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A17 Alaska Air Grounds 18 Planes Alaska Airlines decided to ground 18 of its MD-80 aircraft, the same model as the plane that crashed off the California coast in January when a part in the tail broke.

The New York Times

Andy Newman (NYT) NEW JERSEY LAWRENCEVILLE: POLICE COPTERS GROUNDED The state police decided to ground its three Sikorsky S-76 helicopters pending an investigation by Sikorsky, the manufacturer.

The New York Times

Hoegh Osaka, a car carrier, was stuck for days on a sandbank off Southampton, after its captain and harbour pilot decided to ground the ship when she began listing alarmingly on leaving port.

The Guardian

The approval was given after a dramatic 24 hours in which Cameron decided to ground all planes because of the UK's concerns that the Russian plane that crashed over Sinai on Saturday could have been brought down by an Islamic State bomb.

The Guardian

The Marines also decided to ground all 165 of its CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopters, based on an investigation into the Aug. 10 crash of a Navy MH-53E helicopter off Corpus Christi, Tex., in which four people were killed.

The New York Times

By this time, aviation authorities reluctantly decided to ground commercial aircraft.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

By today, senior Pentagon officials seemed to have decided to grind down the Iraqi government rather than shocking it.

The New York Times

The object lay in his studio for several weeks before he decided to grind the bottom.

Wikipedia

We looked at the show and liked it, and we considered various approaches, and ended up going with something kind of Battlestar-like in that we decided to really ground it.

Huffington Post

Whoever the girl is that decided to make grinding a thing just made it SO much harder for the rest of us to have a good time on the dance floor without being worried about getting borderline fingered by Blackout-Drunk Billy from Stat101.

Huffington Post

In deciding whether to "ground" a vehicle and not rent it, Enterprise relies on the automaker's expertise, she explained.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decided to ground", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being grounded (e.g., aircraft, operations) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "decided". The correct form is "decided to ground" something, not "decided on grounding" unless you are discussing the process of grounding in general.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decided to ground" functions as a verb phrase indicating a deliberate action to stop or restrict something from operating or functioning. Ludwig examples show its use primarily in the context of aviation and investigative actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science & Research

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decided to ground" is a grammatically sound verb phrase indicating a deliberate action to halt or restrict something, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, where it conveys a formal decision to stop operations, often due to safety concerns or investigations. While alternatives like "opted to ground" or "chose to ground" exist, the core meaning remains consistent. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding what is being grounded to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opted to ground

Replaces 'decided' with 'opted', implying a choice was made from available options.

chose to ground

Substitutes 'decided' with 'chose', emphasizing the selection aspect of the decision.

resolved to ground

Replaces 'decided' with 'resolved', suggesting a firm decision was made.

determined to ground

Substitutes 'decided' with 'determined', indicating a strong intention to ground.

made the decision to ground

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

took the decision to ground

Similar to 'made the decision', but with a slightly more formal tone.

elected to ground

Replaces 'decided' with 'elected', which can imply a formal or official choice.

agreed to ground

Suggests a consensus or agreement was reached before grounding.

ordered to ground

Shifts the emphasis to an instruction or command being given.

instructed to ground

Similar to 'ordered to ground', but can imply a more detailed or specific instruction.

FAQs

How is "decided to ground" typically used?

The phrase "decided to ground" is commonly used to describe a decision to stop or restrict the operation of something, particularly aircraft. For example, "The airline "decided to ground" all flights due to safety concerns".

What are some alternatives to "decided to ground"?

Alternatives include phrases like "opted to ground", "chose to ground", or "resolved to ground", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "decided on grounding" instead of "decided to ground"?

While "decided on grounding" is grammatically correct, it refers to deciding about the act of grounding in general. "Decided to ground" refers to a specific decision to ground something. The meanings are slightly different.

In what situations is "decided to ground" most appropriately used?

The phrase "decided to ground" is most appropriate in situations where a formal or official decision is made to halt or restrict operations, often due to safety concerns, investigations, or policy changes. Examples include airlines deciding to ground planes or authorities deciding to ground certain activities.