decline to hear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decline to hear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts when a court or authority chooses not to consider a case or appeal. Example: "The court decided to decline to hear the appeal due to lack of sufficient evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Some said they hoped the justices would now decline to hear an idiosyncratic case affecting a single state.

The New York Times

The Germans stepped in with an amendment that would have allowed any judge to decline to hear a case.

The Economist

In that scenario, he would expect the Supreme Court to decline to hear the case on appeal.

The Washington Post

In hundreds of cases every year, the Supreme Court justices decline to hear cases without providing any explanation.

The New York Times

Unlike courts in America, for example, they may not decline to hear a case in favour of a victim's local court.

The Economist

It seems unlikely that they would decline to hear the case, and allow the four-state ruling against gay marriage to stand indefinitely.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

The New York Times

The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal.

The New York Times - Sports

The California Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

Cornell University

The panel declined to hear the case.

The New York Times - Sports

If the Supreme Court declines to hear the Prop.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decline to hear" in legal writing, ensure you clearly state the reasons for the declination, if known, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "decline hearing" as it's less common and can be misinterpreted. "Decline to hear" is the more standard and understandable phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decline to hear" functions as a verb phrase indicating a decision not to consider or review a case, argument, or appeal. It is primarily used in formal contexts, such as legal proceedings or official statements. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decline to hear" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase, particularly within legal and journalistic domains. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately conveys a decision not to consider a specific case or appeal. Its neutral-to-formal register makes it suitable for professional and academic contexts. While alternatives like "refuse to hear" exist, "decline to hear" maintains a slightly more formal tone. The examples illustrate its prevalence in reporting legal decisions and proceedings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refuse to hear

Replaces 'decline' with 'refuse', conveying a stronger sense of rejection.

reject to hear

Substitutes 'decline' with 'reject', emphasizing a firm refusal to listen.

refuse to consider

Focuses on the act of consideration rather than just hearing, widening the context.

opt not to hear

Replaces 'decline' with 'opt not to', indicating a choice not to engage.

choose not to hear

Highlights the element of choice in not listening or considering.

dismiss from consideration

Emphasizes the act of removing something from being considered.

turn a deaf ear to

An idiomatic expression suggesting an unwillingness to pay attention.

decline to review

Changes 'hear' to 'review', suggesting a refusal to examine or assess.

refrain from hearing

Indicates a conscious decision to abstain from listening.

table the discussion

Idiomatic and mostly used in meetings to defer discussion.

FAQs

What does "decline to hear" mean in a legal context?

In a legal context, "decline to hear" means that a court or other legal body chooses not to review or consider a particular case or appeal. This often happens due to lack of jurisdiction, insufficient evidence, or other procedural reasons.

What can I say instead of "decline to hear"?

You can use alternatives like "refuse to hear", "reject to hear", or "refuse to consider" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "decline to hear" or "refuse to hear"?

"Decline to hear" and "refuse to hear" are often interchangeable, but "decline" can sound slightly more formal or polite than "refuse", which suggests a stronger rejection. The choice depends on the tone you want to convey.

Why would a court "decline to hear" a case?

A court might "decline to hear" a case for various reasons, including lack of standing, the case not meeting jurisdictional requirements, the issue being moot, or the court simply having too many cases to hear. The Supreme Court, for example, only hears a small percentage of the cases it is asked to review.