decision not made

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decision not made" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when indicating that a decision has yet to be reached or finalized. Example: "The proposal is still under review, and a decision not made will delay the project." Alternative expressions include "decision pending" and "decision unresolved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Jeremy Paxman: This was a decision not made before the election?

The Guardian

Neville will be aware that he has been hired by someone who he counts as a friend but also a business partner and that will be interpreted by some as reflecting a decision not made on merit or solely for the good of Valencia.

Independent

"This is a decision not made by the selectors, it was made by me".

BBC

But often times, the cost to consider is that of an opportunity not taken and a decision not made.

TechCrunch

Telling people you are transgender is a very difficult decision, not made lightly.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The hard part is implementing the decision, not making it.

The New York Times

"A decision was not made — a decision happened, and you can't say when or how".

The New Yorker

But the broad design decision was not made that way".

The New York Times

But she questioned why the decision was not made sooner.

The Guardian

The decision was not made in a hurry, both said.

The New York Times

The university's decision was not made lightly.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal reports, pair this phrase with a reason for the lack of resolution to provide better context to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "decision not made" when you mean that no decision was possible. Use "no decision was possible" instead to clarify that external factors prevented the choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decision not made" functions primarily as a noun phrase with a passive modifier. In many contexts identified by Ludwig, it acts as a reduced relative clause, where '[the] decision [that was] not made' describes a specific state of inaction or omission.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "decision not made" is a precise and neutral way to describe a situation that remains unresolved. Ludwig AI highlights its prevalence in high-authority news and academic sources, where it serves to report on ongoing processes or omitted actions without emotional bias. Whether you are writing a business report or a news article, using this phrase ensures clarity and professionalism. For a more active tone, consider alternatives like "awaiting decision", but for a pure status update, the original phrase remains an excellent choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decision yet to be reached

A more elaborate verbal construction indicating an ongoing process.

pending decision

Suggests that the decision is currently in progress or awaiting a final step.

awaiting decision

Shifts the focus to the state of expectation following a proposal.

unresolved choice

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe a situation that lacks a conclusion.

decision outstanding

Emphasizes that the decision is overdue or remains on a list of things to do.

undecided matter

Focuses on the subject of the decision rather than the act of deciding.

unfinalized decision

Indicates that while a direction might be known, the formal step is incomplete.

lack of decision

Highlights the absence of a choice as a specific problem or state.

deferred decision

Specifically notes that the decision has been intentionally moved to a later time.

non-decision

Often implies a decision that was avoided or made by default.

FAQs

How to use "decision not made" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a status, such as: "The project remains on hold with a final "decision not made" by the board."

What can I say instead of "decision not made"?

Depending on your tone, you can use alternatives like "pending decision", "unresolved matter", or "decision outstanding".

Is it better to say "no decision made" or "decision not made"?

The phrase "no decision made" often feels like a complete thought or a headline, whereas "decision not made" is frequently used as a modifier within a larger sentence structure.

What is the formal synonym for "decision not made"?

In professional contexts, "decision yet to be finalized" or "pending resolution" are considered highly formal and precise.