deliberate on it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deliberate on it" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "deliberate about it" or "deliberate on the matter." You can use it when discussing the act of thinking carefully or considering something in detail.
Example: "We need to deliberate about it before making a final decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

All she got back was an answering legal brief from deputies with more citations of laws and policies, bland assurances of how seriously they'd considered her plea, how earnestly they recognized the problem, how deeply they intended to deliberate on it and how little they could do.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

After all three of them reviewed this material, and deliberated on it for some time, Perpetrator 2 angrily crumpled and ripped up the letter from my doctor.

TechCrunch

My first instinct on the topic, at the very first time I really deliberated on it, was that of a skeptic.

Huffington Post

According to an AMA spokesperson, the AMA spoke with both sides of the aisle on a variety of matters, including prescription drugs, but ultimately made their decision because they reviewed the bill and deliberated on it.

Huffington Post

The monarchy has few defenders left, and the assembly's first task will be to deliberate on abolishing it and turning this country into a republic.

The New York Times

The committee begins deliberating on Wednesday morning.

The New York Times

Duchamp would work and deliberate on one piece for nearly ten years.

Huffington Post

His most noted achievement was convoking the local Cortes (assembly) and having it deliberate on a choice of Roman and medieval laws for Catalonia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"As we deliberate on how to respond, it is essential to be cautious, and to be pragmatic – and yet to use every weapon at our disposal".

The Guardian

Any assertion within his statement is material: where, as here, the government's proof hinges on a defendant's statement, the jury must be entitled to deliberate on the statement as it was made to law enforcement, without modification.

Huffington Post

But the new money has languished in city coffers for months, as officials continue to deliberate on exactly how to spend it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to express careful consideration, prefer "deliberate about it" or "consider it carefully". This ensures grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

The common mistake is using "on" instead of "about" after "deliberate". Always use "deliberate about" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deliberate on it" functions as a verb phrase expressing the action of carefully considering something. However, the phrase is grammatically questionable, as noted by Ludwig, with the preferred phrasing being "deliberate about it".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "deliberate on it" appears across various sources, Ludwig indicates that it's grammatically questionable. The preferred and more grammatically sound alternative is "deliberate about it". Usage spans across News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. For clarity and grammatical accuracy, it's advisable to use "deliberate about it" or other alternatives like "consider it" or "think about it". Despite its presence in numerous sources, aiming for grammatical precision will enhance the credibility and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberate about it

Uses the correct preposition, resulting in a more grammatically sound phrase with nearly identical meaning.

consider it carefully

Emphasizes the act of giving something thorough consideration.

think it over thoroughly

Suggests a comprehensive mental review before making a decision.

reflect on it deeply

Implies a profound and thoughtful contemplation.

give it due consideration

Highlights the importance of proper attention and thought.

carefully weigh it

Focuses on the balancing of different factors.

ponder it extensively

Suggests a prolonged and detailed consideration.

mull it over at length

Focuses on thinking deeply about something for a long time.

meditate upon it

Connotes a more spiritual or introspective reflection.

scrutinize it closely

Emphasizes a detailed and critical examination.

FAQs

What's the correct way to use "deliberate" with a preposition?

The correct usage is "deliberate about" or "deliberate on" followed by a noun or subject. For example, "deliberate about the issue" or "deliberate on the matter."

Is "deliberate on it" grammatically correct?

While "deliberate on it" is sometimes used, it's generally considered less correct than "deliberate about it". It's better to use "deliberate about it" for grammatical precision.

What can I say instead of "deliberate on it"?

You can use alternatives like "consider it", "think about it", or "reflect on it" depending on the context.

Which is better, "deliberate on it" or "deliberate about it"?

"Deliberate about it" is generally preferred over "deliberate on it" because it aligns better with standard English grammar. While the meaning is similar, "deliberate about it" is clearer and more widely accepted.