deliberate on something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deliberate on something" is not correct in standard English; the correct form is "deliberate something" or "deliberate on." You can use it when discussing the act of carefully considering or thinking about a particular issue or topic.
Example: "The committee will deliberate on the proposed changes to the policy during their next meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"This is the single biggest reorganization of the federal government in my lifetime," he told reporters, "and for us to take it up and to pass it in a couple of days asks a lot of our judgment and of our ability to deliberate on something of this import.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A few minutes before a game, he will stand at a dry-erase board and deliberate on matchups — something Montelli would have planned out weeks in advance.

The New York Times - Sports

We do not know if it was mechanical, deliberate of something was planted.

The Guardian

The committee begins deliberating on Wednesday morning.

The New York Times

He is a deliberate presence, solemn for long periods; but then he will remark on something absurd and tip backward with laughter.

The New York Times - Health

Whether that was deliberate on Stravinsky's part, or Nijinsky's, is something we'll probably never know.

Independent

This is something which, comically, is almost always overlooked — even though it's entirely deliberate on Apple's part.

TechCrunch

Our sonic choices were very deliberate on the album.

Huffington Post

Not every falsehood is deliberate on Trump's part.

Huffington Post

We also ensure they deliberate on all big decisions.

Huffington Post

No deliberate head-on crashes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "deliberate on something", use "deliberate something". For example, "The committee will deliberate the proposed changes" is grammatically correct.

Common error

Avoid using the preposition "on" after "deliberate" when a direct object follows. It is grammatically incorrect and can make your writing sound awkward. The correct form is to directly follow "deliberate" with the object of consideration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deliberate on something" functions as a verb phrase expressing the action of carefully considering a particular matter. However, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect, as Ludwig AI highlights; the correct form is typically "deliberate something."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "deliberate on something" might seem like a natural way to express careful consideration, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the standard usage is "deliberate something". Although examples can be found across various contexts, including news and media, formal writing should aim for grammatical precision and favor alternatives such as "consider something" or "reflect on something". Therefore, it's best to avoid using "deliberate on something" in formal contexts to maintain grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ponder something

Replaces "deliberate" with "ponder", emphasizing deep thought or consideration about a specific subject.

contemplate something

Uses "contemplate" instead of "deliberate", suggesting a more thoughtful and prolonged consideration.

consider something carefully

Adds "carefully" to "consider" to stress the thoroughness of the evaluation.

reflect on something

Employs "reflect" to indicate a thoughtful review or examination of a topic.

think deeply about something

Replaces "deliberate" with "think deeply", focusing on the depth of thought involved.

meditate on something

Suggests a more spiritual or contemplative approach to thinking about something.

weigh something carefully

Uses "weigh" to emphasize the act of balancing different aspects or considerations.

ruminate on something

Implies a slower, more cyclical process of thinking, often involving revisiting the same thoughts.

give something careful thought

This alternative uses a more descriptive approach, emphasizing the careful consideration given to the subject.

study something closely

Focuses on a detailed examination or analysis of a topic, often implying a more analytical approach.

FAQs

How can I use the word "deliberate" correctly in a sentence?

Use "deliberate" followed directly by the object you are considering. For example, "The jury will deliberate the evidence" is correct, while "The jury will deliberate on the evidence" is generally considered incorrect.

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "deliberate on something"?

You can use alternatives such as "ponder something", "consider something", or "reflect on something" depending on the context.

Is it ever correct to use "deliberate on"?

While "deliberate on something" is generally considered incorrect, "deliberate on" can be used without a direct object to mean 'to think carefully or discuss something'. For example, 'The council deliberated on the matter for several hours'.

What's the difference between "deliberate something" and "deliberate over something"?

"Deliberate something" means to consider something carefully. "Deliberate over something" has a similar meaning, but it often implies a more prolonged or hesitant consideration.