going to decide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "going to decide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a future intention or plan to make a decision. Example: "After much consideration, I am going to decide on the best course of action by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

going to decide today?

The New York Times

I'm going to decide everything.

Harvard Business Review

We are going to decide".

The Guardian - Sport

What is going to decide who wins?

The Guardian

When are you going to decide?

The Guardian

It's going to decide if it likes that or not.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Moreover, which bills are we going to decide to pay?

The New York Times

"I'm not going to decide anything right now.

The New York Times - Sports

[1] So how are you going to decide?

The New York Times

"Because we are not going to decide about it".

The New York Times - Sports

They were never going to decide for us".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "going to decide" to express intentions or plans that are not yet finalized. If the decision is already made, consider using phrases like "have decided" or "decided".

Common error

Avoid using "going to decide" when describing an action that's happening in the present. "Going to decide" implies a future action, so for current actions, use "deciding" or "am deciding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "going to decide" functions as a future intention marker. It indicates a planned or anticipated action of making a decision at some point in the future. The numerous examples provided by Ludwig showcase its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

11%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "going to decide" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a future intention to make a decision. As reported by Ludwig, its versatility is evident from its widespread presence in News & Media and academic sources. While appropriate for general use, writers might consider more formal alternatives, such as "will determine" or "intend to decide", in academic or professional contexts. When using this phrase, clarity is key, ensuring the timeline for the decision is clear. This phrase is a powerful way to communicate your future plans for decision-making in a variety of settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plan to decide

Emphasizes the planning stage before making a decision, highlighting intention.

intend to decide

Highlights the intention or purpose behind making a decision, more formal than "going to decide".

will determine

Indicates a future certainty in establishing something, implying a decision-making process.

will make a decision

A more formal and explicit way of stating the intention to decide.

will resolve

Focuses on settling or finding a solution, suggesting a decision that concludes a problem.

are set to decide

Suggests a scheduled or predetermined time for making a decision.

aim to decide

Implies a goal-oriented approach to decision-making.

will be deciding

Expresses a future action of deciding, with a sense of ongoing process.

shall decide

A more formal or archaic way of expressing future decision-making.

going to conclude

Suggests reaching a final judgement or decision based on available information.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "going to decide" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "will determine", "intend to decide", or "will make a decision" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "going to decide" and "deciding"?

"Going to decide" indicates a future intention or plan to make a decision, while "deciding" describes an action that is currently in progress. For example, "I am going to decide tomorrow" versus "I am deciding right now".

Is "going to decide" appropriate for academic writing?

While "going to decide" is grammatically correct, it can sound informal. In academic writing, consider using more formal alternatives like "will determine" or "intend to decide" to maintain a professional tone.

What are some common situations where I might use "going to decide"?

You can use "going to decide" when talking about future plans, intentions, or possibilities where a decision needs to be made. For example, "I am going to decide which college to attend next week", or "The committee is going to decide on the budget allocation soon."