defined a plan

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defined a plan" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "define a plan" if you are referring to the act of creating or outlining a plan. Example: "In our meeting, we need to define a plan for the upcoming project to ensure everyone is on the same page."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We have defined a plan based on three pillars.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"The algorithms define a plan, with a list of facts," Birnbaum explains.

The Guardian - Tech

First, we need to define a plan: a set of policies and principles that we expect the next Congress to take immediate and decisive action on to ensure our vessel remains seaworthy.

Huffington Post

Thirteen PIs specifically stated that they had yet to define a plan for continuing their program.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Our team has drawn upon this study, numerous other studies, and perhaps most importantly, our own experience in the industry, to define a plan for the success of VISTA INVESTORS.

Bplans

Purpose: Uncertainties in patient repositioning and organ motion are accounted for by defining a planning target volume (PTV).

International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics

In defining a planning target volume (PTV), the CTV has to be expanded in all directions with a margin of 10 mm, except towards the vertebrae and kidneys, where a margin of 5 mm is applied.

BMC Cancer

Under existing law, a health savings account must be paired with a high-deductible, low-premium "catastrophic" health plan, defined as a plan with a deductible of at least $2,600 for a family.

Los Angeles Times

The United States should define a reasonable plan to reduce government debt and deficits to avoid the "fiscal cliff".

Huffington Post

It is important to characterize precisely the pancreatic tumour in order to define a treatment plan and consider prognosis.

Cancer Imaging

The NHS Choices website defines a care plan as an agreement between a service user and their health professional designed to help them manage their health day to day.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the act of creating a plan, prefer the phrase "define a plan" or other alternatives like "develop a plan" or "establish a plan" for better grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "defined a plan" when you intend to describe the action of creating a plan. The correct usage is "define a plan" or choose alternative verbs such as "establish", "develop", or "formulate" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defined a plan" functions as a verb phrase where "defined" is in the past tense, modifying the noun "plan". However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not considered correct in standard written English, suggesting the base form "define" should be preferred when referring to the act of creating a plan.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "defined a plan" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI suggests that it is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. The preferred form is "define a plan" when referring to the act of creating or outlining a plan. Alternative phrases like "established a plan", "developed a plan", or "formulated a plan" may provide clearer and more precise communication. Therefore, it's advisable to use these alternatives, especially in formal or professional contexts, to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

established a plan

Replaces "defined" with "established", emphasizing the act of setting up or founding the plan.

created a plan

Substitutes "defined" with "created", highlighting the act of bringing the plan into existence.

developed a plan

Uses "developed" instead of "defined", stressing the gradual evolution and refinement of the plan.

formulated a plan

Replaces "defined" with "formulated", emphasizing the careful and systematic creation of the plan.

devised a plan

Uses "devised" instead of "defined", suggesting an inventive or ingenious approach to creating the plan.

outlined a plan

Replaces "defined" with "outlined", focusing on the act of sketching or presenting the main points of the plan.

drafted a plan

Substitutes "defined" with "drafted", emphasizing the initial writing or preparation of the plan.

set out a plan

Uses "set out" instead of "defined", highlighting the act of presenting or explaining the plan clearly.

laid out a plan

Replaces "defined" with "laid out", focusing on the detailed and organized presentation of the plan.

conceived a plan

Substitutes "defined" with "conceived", stressing the origination and initial idea of the plan.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "defined a plan"?

The grammatically correct way is to say "define a plan". You can also use alternatives like "develop a plan" or "establish a plan".

Can I use "defined a plan" in my writing?

While some sources use "defined a plan", it's generally better to use "define a plan" or other alternatives for clearer and grammatically sound writing.

What does it mean to "define a plan"?

To "define a plan" means to create, outline, or establish a specific course of action to achieve a goal. It involves determining the details and steps required to execute the plan.

Which is more appropriate, "define a plan" or "devise a plan"?

"Define a plan" focuses on outlining the details of a plan, while "devise a plan" emphasizes the ingenuity and inventiveness in creating the plan. The best choice depends on the specific context.