devise a plan

USAGE SUMMARY

"devise a plan" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to suggest that someone should come up with a strategy or course of action to complete a task. For example, "We need to devise a plan to increase sales in the next quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

The two of you devise a plan.

The New Yorker

"We deferred to them to devise a plan".

The New York Times - Sports

As panic spread, Morgan helped Menoyo devise a plan.

The New Yorker

I decided to devise a plan and called everyone together.

The New York Times

Ferrara asked Dye to join a small group that would devise a plan.

The New Yorker

Given this delay, there was enough time to devise a plan to save it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

They need help devising a plan forward.

The New York Times

So he devised a plan.

Harvard Business Review

So it devised a plan.

The New York Times - Books

Ms. Cohn has already started devising a plan.

The New York Times

Out of those conversations, Mohammed and Basit devised a plan.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “devise a plan” when brainstorming sessions are coming up, it emphasizes the collaborative effort to get a positive outcome.

Common error

Avoid making the "plan" too intricate or unrealistic. Simplicity and feasibility are key to effective planning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devise a plan" functions as a verb phrase, with "devise" acting as the main verb and "a plan" serving as the direct object. It is used to express the action of creating or formulating a strategy. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is frequently employed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devise a plan" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the creation of a strategy or method for achieving a specific goal. Ludwig AI's analysis, supported by numerous examples from reliable sources, confirms its widespread usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it can be used in both formal and informal settings, ensuring the plan is actionable and avoiding overcomplication are key to effective communication. Consider alternatives like "formulate a strategy" or "develop a scheme" for nuanced expression. When a collaborative effort is needed it emphasizes a positive outcome, and a vague plan, on the other hand, may as well mean there's not plan at all.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formulate a strategy

Replaces "devise" with "formulate" and "plan" with "strategy", emphasizing a more structured approach.

develop a scheme

Uses "develop" instead of "devise" and "scheme" instead of "plan", suggesting a potentially less formal or more intricate strategy.

craft a strategy

Substitutes "devise" with "craft", implying a careful and skillful creation of a strategy.

create an approach

Replaces "plan" with "approach", focusing on a method or way of dealing with a situation.

establish a roadmap

Uses "establish" and "roadmap" to convey a more detailed and visually oriented planning process.

design a course of action

Replaces "plan" with "course of action", indicating a set of steps to be taken.

map out a program

Uses "map out" to emphasize the detailed planning and organization of a program.

outline a proposal

Replaces "plan" with "proposal", suggesting a plan that is presented for consideration.

arrange a setup

Uses "arrange" and "setup" to imply a more practical and logistical plan.

contrive a method

Substitutes "devise" with "contrive", suggesting resourcefulness or ingenuity in creating a method.

FAQs

How can I use "devise a plan" in a sentence?

You can use "devise a plan" to describe the act of creating a strategy or method to achieve a goal. For example, "The team needs to "devise a plan" to increase sales."

What are some alternatives to "devise a plan"?

Alternatives include "formulate a strategy", "develop a scheme", or "craft a strategy" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to "devise a plan" or "implement a plan"?

"Devise a plan" refers to the creation of a strategy, while "implement a plan" means putting that strategy into action. They are sequential steps in achieving a goal.

What's the difference between "devise a plan" and "consider a plan"?

"Devise a plan" implies actively creating a strategy. "Consider a plan" simply means thinking about or evaluating an existing plan.