dictates the result

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dictates the result" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how a particular factor or condition determines or influences the outcome of a situation. Example: "The quality of the materials used in construction often dictates the result of the building's durability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"When President Obama was a senator and he decided to vote against both now-Justice Alito and Justice Roberts, he made a statement on the floor, and he said that in 95percentt of the cases, judges agree, but that last 5percentthereere may not be precedent, there may not be law that dictates the result," Mr. Kyl said.

The New York Times

"In a lot of the games over the past few weeks often a mistake dictates the result and defines a close game".

BBC

He lost it by stopping again for another set on lap 45 but was promoted back ahead of Ricciardo as a result of a rule that dictates the result is taken from the end of lap before the race was stopped.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The term evaluating to true dictates the resulting state and the Output species are updated accordingly at t + 1.

BMC Systems Biology

Obviously, the fine-tuning of the intracellular signaling pathways' regulatory circuits dictates the resulting cellular response (cell death or survival) in the end.

BMC Systems Biology

In other words, if the composition dictates the resulting observed bandgap, it can be assumed that the bandgap can represent the composition.

ACS Combinatorial Science

Taken together all of our observations, we propose a kinetic model of how the pulling process dictates the resulting molecular conformation and ultrastructure, as sketched in Fig. 8.

Biomaterials

"Again, that doesn't dictate the result.

The New York Times

"The president-elect said that he had no interest in dictating the result of the selection process, and he would not do so, either directly or indirectly".

The New York Times

"Neither end of Pennsylvania Avenue is going to dictate the result," said Senator Max Baucus of Montana, the senior Democrat on the Finance Committee.

The New York Times

The article shows that the foundation donates to organizations with disparate points of view, finances research without dictating the result, and in general promotes a fair and open discussion in many forums.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dictates the result" when you want to emphasize that a specific factor has a strong, decisive impact on the outcome. This is especially appropriate in scenarios where the relationship is clear and direct.

Common error

Avoid using "dictates the result" if the factor only contributes to, rather than definitively determines, the outcome. Using more nuanced language like "influences" or "shapes" can provide a more accurate representation of the relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dictates the result" functions as a verbal phrase that typically describes a cause-and-effect relationship, where a specific factor directly and decisively determines the outcome. It often appears in contexts where the speaker aims to emphasize the controlling influence of a particular element.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dictates the result" is grammatically correct and used to express that a specific factor strongly and decisively determines an outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English. It's most commonly found in news and scientific contexts. While not a highly frequent phrase, its use is appropriate in formal to neutral settings. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the factor truly has a determinative effect, rather than just a contributing influence. Consider alternatives such as "determines the outcome" or "controls the result" for similar but slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determines the outcome

This phrase directly implies a conclusive effect on the final result, similar to "dictates the result".

controls the result

This suggests a direct and powerful influence over the outcome, akin to "dictates the result".

determines the end

A similar sense that something is defining the finality of an event.

shapes the outcome

This phrase suggests a more gradual and formative influence than "dictates the result".

influences the result

This indicates a weaker effect compared to "dictates the result", implying a contributing factor rather than a determining one.

governs the outcome

This phrase suggests a rule-based or systematic influence on the final result.

establishes the result

This suggests that something is creating or setting the result.

decides the result

This puts more emphasis on a decision or choice leading to the result.

predetermines the result

This phrase suggests that the result was fixed in advance.

conditions the result

This alternative indicates that a certain element is indispensable for a specific result.

FAQs

What does "dictates the result" mean?

The phrase "dictates the result" means that something has a strong and decisive influence on what the final outcome will be. It implies a direct causal relationship.

What can I say instead of "dictates the result"?

You can use alternatives like "determines the outcome", "controls the result", or "shapes the outcome" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "dictates the result" in formal writing?

Yes, "dictates the result" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when describing a direct and significant influence. However, ensure the context supports such a strong claim.

How does "dictates the result" differ from "influences the result"?

"Dictates the result" implies a stronger, more deterministic effect, while "influences the result" suggests a contributing but not necessarily decisive factor. The choice depends on the degree of impact you want to convey.