decisions were made

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decisions were made" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used when you have made a decision and want to express it. For example: After a long discussion, decisions were made and the team agreed to move forward with the project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Decisions were made.

The New York Times

But no decisions were made.

The New York Times

A number of odd decisions were made.

The New Yorker

Decisions were made, and adhered to.

The New York Times

Decisions were made by consensus.

The Guardian - Opinion

No decisions were made Friday.

The New York Times

Decisions were made, families were broken up.

The Guardian - Opinion

In outlying cities, other decisions were made.

The New York Times

That was when decisions were made.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Once those decisions were made, everything else fell into place.

The New York Times

"In some cases, decisions were made without me".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decisions were made", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the decisions and what the decisions pertained to. Providing specific details enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "decisions were made" without specifying who made the decisions. This can create a sense of unaccountability or lack of transparency. Always aim to clarify the responsible party whenever possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decisions were made" functions as a declarative statement indicating that a process of choosing among options has concluded. Ludwig AI's examples show its use across various contexts, generally to report that choices have been finalized.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decisions were made" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that a choice or resolution has been reached. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general communication. While versatile, it's best practice to specify who made the decisions for clarity and accountability. Alternatives like "resolutions were reached" or "choices were decided" can be used for slight variations in tone or emphasis. The most authoritative sources using this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian, and Huffington Post.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

choices were decided

Replaces "decisions" with "choices" and "made" with "decided", offering a slightly different emphasis on the selection process.

resolutions were reached

Substitutes "decisions" with "resolutions" and "made" with "reached", suggesting a formal conclusion to a problem or discussion.

determinations were established

Replaces "decisions" with "determinations" and "made" with "established", implying a more official or permanent conclusion.

conclusions were drawn

Uses "conclusions" instead of "decisions" and "drawn" instead of "made", focusing on the reasoning process that led to the outcome.

agreements were formed

Replaces "decisions" with "agreements" and "made" with "formed", emphasizing the aspect of consensus or mutual understanding.

arrangements were settled

Substitutes "decisions" with "arrangements" and "made" with "settled", suggesting that logistical or practical details have been finalized.

judgments were rendered

Replaces "decisions" with "judgments" and "made" with "rendered", implying a formal or legal evaluation has taken place.

selections were finalized

Substitutes "decisions" with "selections" and "made" with "finalized", putting emphasis on the completion of a selection process.

outcomes were determined

Replaces "decisions" with "outcomes" and "made" with "determined", focusing on the end result being established.

plans were implemented

Changes the focus to the execution of decisions as plans, using "implemented" instead of "made".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "decisions were made" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "resolutions were reached" or "determinations were established" to convey a sense of official conclusion.

What is a simpler way to say "decisions were made"?

You could use simpler alternatives such as "choices were decided" or "things were settled" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "decisions were made"?

The phrase "decisions were made" is suitable when you want to state that a conclusion or a set of choices has been reached, without necessarily detailing the decision-making process or the specifics of the decisions themselves.

Is it better to specify who made the decisions instead of saying "decisions were made"?

In many cases, yes. Specifying who made the decisions provides transparency and accountability. Instead of saying "decisions were made", you could say "the board "concluded"" or "the team decided".