declined to ratify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declined to ratify" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where an individual or group has chosen not to approve or confirm an agreement, treaty, or proposal. Example: "The committee declined to ratify the proposed changes to the policy after much deliberation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The Iranian parliament declined to ratify the deal.

The New Yorker

Nonetheless, the legislatures of all but one of the former Confederate states declined to ratify the amendment.

The New Yorker

The U.S. Senate declined to ratify it because it still restricted U.S. rights over the proposed canal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Contrast this with the United States, which declined to ratify the Kyoto agreement because China and other developing countries were not required to do much.

The New York Times

The two countries negotiated a treaty that would define their exploratory rights in border zones, but the United States Senate declined to ratify it in 1980.

The New York Times

The US, India and China as well as most Middle Eastern states have declined to ratify the Rome statute which established the court.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Two Republican Senators, James Inhofe and Jerry Moran, have gleefully pronounced the treaty "dead on arrival" and argue that the United States should not ratify it because North Korea, Syria and Iran declined to sign it.

The New York Times

In Copenhagen, in 2009, President Obama was merely ratifying a fait accompli when he declined to commit the United States to binding targets for reductions.

The New Yorker

Both sides declined to comment on the substance of the agreement until it was ratified.

The New York Times

American and the Allied Pilots Association declined to release any details of the deal, which must still be ratified by the union's 10,500 members, who last year staged a damaging 10-day "sickout" in a dispute over another acquisition.

The New York Times

Abdulrahman al-Attiyah, the council's secretary general, has said that a third council member, Qatar, had already ratified the union plan although Qatari officials have declined to comment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "declined to ratify" when you want to convey a formal or official decision not to approve a treaty, agreement, or other formal proposal. It's appropriate in news reports, academic papers, and official statements.

Common error

Don't use "declined to ratify" when the subject is simply disagreeing with an idea or proposal. Ratification specifically refers to the formal approval of a binding agreement. Use verbs like "rejected", "disagreed with" or "opposed" in other contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declined to ratify" functions as a verb phrase indicating a formal refusal to approve or confirm an agreement, treaty, or proposal. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its usage in describing decisions made by parliaments, governments, and organizations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "declined to ratify" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe the formal rejection of an agreement or treaty, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and encyclopedic sources, the phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for both professional and academic discourse. While the phrase is not overly common, a variety of alternative phrases exist, such as "refused to ratify" and "did not ratify", depending on the desired emphasis. When using the phrase, ensure that the context involves the formal approval process of an agreement, avoiding its misuse in simpler disagreements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refused to ratify

Uses "refused" instead of "declined", indicating a stronger, more deliberate rejection.

rejected ratification

Emphasizes the act of rejecting the ratification itself, rather than the act of declining.

did not ratify

A simpler, more direct way of stating the non-ratification.

chose not to ratify

Highlights the element of choice in not ratifying.

opted against ratification

Indicates a deliberate decision against ratification, suggesting consideration of alternatives.

withheld ratification

Suggests a temporary holding back of ratification, though ultimately not given.

failed to ratify

Focuses on the lack of successful ratification, possibly due to inability or circumstance.

did not endorse

Replaces "ratify" with "endorse", broadening the scope to any form of approval.

refused to approve

Similar to "did not endorse", but with a stronger emphasis on active refusal.

turned down

An informal way of saying rejected ratification, suitable for less formal contexts.

FAQs

What does "declined to ratify" mean?

It means that an individual, group, or organization has chosen not to formally approve or confirm a treaty, agreement, or proposal. It indicates a decision against giving official sanction to something.

What's a more formal way to say "declined to ratify"?

While "declined to ratify" is already fairly formal, you could use phrases like "rejected ratification" or "chose not to ratify" to add emphasis to the decision.

What can I say instead of "declined to ratify" in an informal context?

In less formal settings, you could use "refused to approve", "did not endorse", or even "turned down", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "declined to sign" instead of "declined to ratify"?

While related, they aren't interchangeable. "Declined to sign" means someone refused to initially agree to something, whereas "declined to ratify" means they refused to formally approve something already signed or agreed upon in principle. Ratification is a later step.