declined to observe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declined to observe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone chose not to pay attention to or follow something, such as a rule or guideline. Example: "The committee declined to observe the new regulations set forth by the governing body."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The I.O.C., through its president, Jacques Rogge, said a formal commemoration is not appropriate at this time, and has declined to observe a moment of silence.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Furthermore, in many instances, a widow who declines to observe the practice risks being sent away from the husband's home and having her property confiscated, with little or no state protection.

Plosone

One person declined to be observed by the research team.

BMC Public Health

Only one member of staff declined to be observed and interviewed.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

After treatment, serum levels of BAFF dramatically declined to levels observed in healthy controls in most cases; however, the levels increased again during follow-up.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Developmentally, with the exception of cerebellum, Thap1 mRNA level reached a maximum in all rat brain regions at P7 after which the mRNA levels declined to those observed in adult brain.

Acta neuropathologica communications

Although monocytic TREM-1 expression did not differ on admission between septic survivors and nonsurvivors, expression in these two groups diverged significantly by day 3, with high and stable level in nonsurvivors, but with levels in surviving patients rapidly declining to those observed in healthy volunteers and nonseptic patients.

Critical Care

He allowed a reporter for The New York Times to accompany him during the day, although BP declined to let the reporter observe some meetings.

The New York Times - Science

In Taylor's, a coffee shop on West 18th Street in Manhattan, one woman who said she was a literary agent but declined to give her name observed that when the mayor admitted fault, she guessed that he would not be seeking higher office.

The New York Times

When cognition declined to VD, similar results were observed.

Clinical interventions in aging

(The salesman, who was observing the surgery, declined to answer).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "declined to observe" when indicating a formal or deliberate decision not to participate in or acknowledge something, especially when observation implies a duty or expectation. It's stronger than simply 'did not see'.

Common error

Avoid using "declined to observe" in casual conversation. Simpler phrases like 'didn't see' or 'chose not to watch' are more appropriate for informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declined to observe" functions as a verb phrase indicating a deliberate refusal or choice not to participate in or acknowledge something. It is typically used in formal contexts to convey a conscious decision.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "declined to observe" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to express a deliberate decision not to participate in or acknowledge something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Primarily found in News & Media and Science contexts, it carries a neutral to formal tone. For more casual settings, simpler alternatives like "didn't see" are recommended. The phrase's purpose is to formally state non-participation, often implying disagreement or disapproval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refused to watch

Emphasizes a refusal to visually witness something, differing from a broader non-participation.

chose not to monitor

Highlights a deliberate decision against supervising or tracking something.

opted out of observing

Focuses on a voluntary choice to not be involved in an observation.

passed on witnessing

Informal expression for choosing not to see something happen.

did not acknowledge

Shifts focus to a refusal to recognize or admit something, rather than a direct observation.

refused to participate

Broadens the scope to any form of involvement, not just observation.

disagreed to supervise

Highlights a disagreement leading to a refusal to oversee something.

declined to take note

Emphasizes a refusal to pay attention or record information.

chose not to heed

Highlights a decision not to pay attention to advice or a warning.

avoided witnessing

Focuses on actively preventing oneself from seeing something.

FAQs

How can I use "declined to observe" in a sentence?

You can use "declined to observe" to indicate a formal refusal to participate in something, such as, "The committee "declined to observe" the new regulations."

What phrases are similar to "declined to observe"?

Similar phrases include "refused to watch", "chose not to monitor", or "opted out of observing", which convey similar meanings of refusing or choosing not to engage in observation.

Is it more formal to say "declined to observe" or "didn't see"?

"Declined to observe" is more formal. "Didn't see" is more casual and implies a lack of awareness, while "declined to observe" suggests a deliberate choice not to engage.

When is it appropriate to use "declined to observe"?

It's appropriate when referring to a deliberate decision not to participate or acknowledge something, especially in professional or formal contexts, rather than a simple lack of awareness.