difficult decisions to make

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult decisions to make" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing choices that are challenging or complex, often in contexts involving moral, ethical, or significant personal implications. Example: "As a leader, I often face difficult decisions to make that can impact the entire team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There were some difficult decisions to make.

The New York Times - Sports

These are very difficult decisions to make".

The New York Times

Of course these are always difficult decisions to make.

The Economist

At times there were more difficult decisions to make.

The New York Times

Now, Mr. O'Neal has some difficult decisions to make.

The New York Times

And there's difficult decisions to make along the way.

Harvard Business Review

If the national margin remains close, the campaigns will have some difficult decisions to make.

The New York Times

But there are difficult decisions to make in reaching a better housing system, as listed above.

The New York Times

He will have some extremely difficult decisions to make in the next few days.

Yale University

We have still got plenty of difficult decisions to make to keep reforms going.

The Guardian - Business

Sometimes these are difficult decisions to make, requiring spreadsheets, projections and complex calculations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult decisions to make", ensure the context clearly indicates who is making the decisions and what factors contribute to the difficulty. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that there are "difficult decisions to make" without explaining the specific challenges or factors involved. Provide details about the context to enhance the statement's impact and informativeness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult decisions to make" functions as a descriptor, typically acting as a noun modifier or part of a larger predicate. It identifies decisions characterized by their challenging or complex nature. Ludwig provides numerous examples in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult decisions to make" is a commonly used descriptor indicating the presence of challenging or complex choices. Grammatically sound and versatile, it frequently appears in diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is appropriate for various registers, though it often requires contextual details to enhance its impact. Alternatives such as ""challenging choices to make"" or ""tough choices to make"" offer nuanced substitutions. In summary, while simple, "difficult decisions to make" is appropriate when used accurately and when specific challenges are addressed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging choices to make

Emphasizes the challenging aspect of the choices involved.

tough choices to make

Replaces "difficult" with "tough", indicating a demanding decision.

hard choices to make

Uses "hard" instead of "difficult", suggesting a lack of ease.

complex choices to consider

Highlights the intricate nature of the decisions.

demanding decisions to reach

Focuses on the effort required to arrive at a decision.

critical choices to address

Emphasizes the importance and urgency of the decisions.

significant choices to take

Highlights the potential impact of the decisions.

weighty decisions to undertake

Suggests that the decisions carry significant responsibility.

consequential decisions to render

Highlights the impactful consequences of these decisions.

unenviable choices to face

Emphasizes the unpleasant aspect of needing to make the decision.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult decisions to make" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult decisions to make" to describe situations where challenging choices are necessary, such as "The company faced "difficult decisions to make" regarding budget cuts".

What are some alternatives to "difficult decisions to make"?

Alternatives include "challenging choices to make", "tough choices to make", or "complex choices to consider" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "difficult decisions to make" or "hard decisions to make"?

Both "difficult decisions to make" and "hard decisions to make" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or stylistic considerations.

What makes decisions "difficult decisions to make"?

Decisions can be "difficult decisions to make" due to various factors, such as conflicting priorities, ethical considerations, limited information, or potential negative consequences.