discretionary judgment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discretionary judgment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is making a decision based on their own judgment or choice, often in a professional or legal setting. Example: "The judge exercised her discretionary judgment in determining the appropriate sentence for the defendant."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The Attorney General's discretionary judgment regarding the application of this section shall not be subject to review.

Cornell University

Courts that have extended the same immunity to the prosecutor have sometimes remarked on the fact that all three officials judge, grand juror, and prosecutor exercise a discretionary judgment on the basis of evidence presented to them.

Cornell University

the Attorney General's discretionary judgment whether to grant relief under section 1158(a) of this title shall be conclusive unless manifestly contrary to the law and an abuse of discretion.

Cornell University

"While the rights of arms-exporting states is well preserved in this text," he said, "the right of importing states to acquire and import arms for their security needs is subject to the discretionary judgment and subjective assessment of the exporting states".

The New York Times

Whether a local county canvassing board's discretionary judgment during the protest period not to conduct a manual recount will be set aside during a contest period depends upon whether a candidate provides additional evidence that the rejected votes contain enough "legal votes" to place the outcome of the race in doubt.

The New York Times

It should increase efficiency and curtail human bias that is often disguised as discretionary judgment.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Discretionary judgments for "ta'zir" crimes have led to arbitrary rulings with contentious outcomes.

The Guardian

Second, I will discuss one important, distinctive feature of the CCAR program: namely, its reliance on discretionary judgments by regulators concerning a hypothetical, uncertain future.

Columbia University

Mr. Tierney said in an interview that while the commission's primary concern was landmark worthiness, it also has "a responsibility to weigh all the information before us to make discretionary judgments based on the facts".

The New York Times - Arts

To appreciate this point, consider that the CCAR does not merely expand the range of operating conditions over which supervisors are authorized to intervene in bank dividend policies; it also invites supervisors to make such interventions based on discretionary judgments about how to set the stress scenarios.

Columbia University

Accordingly, it is likely that many (individual and collective) discretionary judgments will be ones that do not contribute to the realisation of the institution's purposes, even if they do facilitate the narrow self-interest of individuals and factional elements.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "discretionary judgment", ensure the context clearly indicates who is exercising the judgment and what criteria, if any, are guiding that judgment.

Common error

Avoid implying that "discretionary judgment" is entirely arbitrary. Even when discretion is involved, decisions should ideally be based on some form of reasoned analysis or relevant expertise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discretionary judgment" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It describes the capacity or act of making a decision based on individual assessment rather than strict rules. Ludwig AI confirms the acceptability of this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Academia

35%

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "discretionary judgment" is a grammatically sound and functionally descriptive term indicating a decision made through personal evaluation rather than strict adherence to rules. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability, and its presence across academic, news, and scientific sources suggests its versatility in formal contexts. When employing this phrase, clarity regarding the decision-maker and guiding criteria is paramount. While alternatives like "subjective assessment" or "judgment call" exist, "discretionary judgment" specifically underscores the autonomy and evaluative nature of the decision-making process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

judgment call

Highlights that it is a decision that requires deliberation and assessment.

subjective assessment

Emphasizes the personal nature of the evaluation.

personal discretion

Highlights the individual's freedom to decide.

individual evaluation

Focuses on the act of assessing based on one's own criteria.

independent decision

Stresses the autonomy in making the choice.

evaluative decision

Highlights the evaluative nature of the decision.

free will decision

Highlights the absence of constraints in the decision-making process.

personal call

Emphasizes the personal responsibility in making a decision.

selective assessment

Highlights the selective nature of the assessment.

flexible decision-making

Emphasizes the adaptability and freedom in the decision-making process.

FAQs

How can I use "discretionary judgment" in a sentence?

You can use "discretionary judgment" to describe a decision made using one's own judgment or choice. For instance, "The officer exercised his "discretionary judgment" in deciding whether to issue a warning or a ticket."

What's the difference between "discretionary judgment" and "arbitrary decision"?

"Discretionary judgment" implies a reasoned decision within certain parameters, while "arbitrary decision" suggests a choice made without any apparent reason or system. A "discretionary judgment" isn't supposed to be an "arbitrary decision".

What can I say instead of "discretionary judgment"?

Alternatives include "subjective assessment", "personal discretion", or "judgment call", depending on the specific context.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "discretionary judgment"?

It's appropriate when referring to decisions made by individuals or bodies with the authority to make choices based on their own assessment, such as judges, managers, or experts in a field.