deciding to refuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deciding to refuse" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a choice or determination to reject something or someone. Example: "After much consideration, she is now deciding to refuse the job offer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

And I remember deciding to refuse them this.

The Guardian

To allow the spending bills to pass, but to then refuse to raise the debt ceiling, is equivalent to a family's deciding to refuse to pay the credit card bill while continuing to spend.

The New York Times

Attorney General Janet Reno said today at a Senate hearing that no one ever pressured her into deciding to refuse to seek an outside prosecutor to investigate President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore for their political fund-raising activities during the 1996 campaign.

The New York Times

As reported by Search Engine Watch, some attorneys accuse the Bing search engine (a Microsoft property) of recently deciding to refuse all of these court orders.

Forbes

Actually, the chamber was a step ahead of Blair in deciding to refuse Spivey a permit.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The General Medical Council states that "an adult patient who has capacity may decide to refuse treatment even if refusal may result in harm to themselves or in their own death" (3).

Diabetes Care

If a driver accepts an e-hail and then decides to refuse someone based on destination, race or physical disability, the record of that refusal is digitally stored.

The New York Times

If, prior to the signing of a merger agreement, a banker cannot provide a fairness opinion for the proposed purchase price, the special committee may decide to refuse to approve the transaction or could try to use the banker's refusal as leverage to try to negotiate a higher price or better terms from the bidder.

Columbia University

I have therefore decided to refuse the request".

The Guardian

In 1998, UK universities decided to refuse money from tobacco firms for cancer research.

The Guardian - Tech

On one very memorable evening, myself and my friends decided to refuse to leave.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "deciding to refuse", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being refused and the reasoning behind the decision for enhanced clarity. Make sure the object or recipient of the refusal is clearly stated.

Common error

Avoid phrasing that obscures who is making the decision. Instead of saying "it was decided to refuse", specify who decided to refuse, making the sentence more direct and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deciding to refuse" functions as a gerund phrase, typically serving as a noun. It describes the act of making a determination not to accept or comply with something. Ludwig confirms the correctness and usability of the phrase, with examples showing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "deciding to refuse" is a grammatically sound gerund phrase used to describe the act of consciously choosing to reject something. As per Ludwig, it is considered correct and usable in written English, albeit with relatively low frequency. While versatile enough for different registers, it most often appears in News & Media. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clarifies what is being refused and the reasons behind the decision. Remember to avoid overuse of the passive voice to maintain clarity. Related phrases, such as "choosing to reject" or "opting to decline", can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

choosing to reject

Emphasizes the element of choice in the act of refusal.

opting to decline

Highlights a formal or polite way of refusing.

resolving to deny

Implies a firm and determined decision to refuse.

determining to reject

Focuses on the process of reaching a decision to refuse.

making the choice to decline

Expands on the idea of making a specific choice.

electing to refuse

Suggests a formal or deliberate decision.

taking the decision to reject

Emphasizes the gravity or importance of the decision.

coming to the conclusion to refuse

Focuses on the thought process leading to refusal.

agreeing to decline

Implies a consensus or agreement to refuse, where a group or couple of people have mutually decided

proceeding to reject

Highlights the act of progressing towards a rejection after having made a plan, or after some analysis has been done.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "deciding to refuse"?

You can use alternatives like "choosing to reject", "opting to decline", or "resolving to deny" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How can I use "deciding to refuse" in a sentence?

Use "deciding to refuse" to describe the act of making a choice not to accept or comply with something. For example, "After careful consideration, she is deciding to refuse the offer."

What's the difference between "deciding to refuse" and "refusing to decide"?

"Deciding to refuse" implies a conscious choice to reject something, while "refusing to decide" suggests an unwillingness to make a decision at all. They describe different actions.

Is "deciding to refuse" formal or informal?

"Deciding to refuse" is relatively neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding language and the specific situation.