hard decision to make

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard decision to make" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a choice that is difficult or challenging to determine, often due to the potential consequences involved. Example: "Choosing between two job offers was a hard decision to make, as both had their own advantages."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

In that instance, it's not a hard decision to make.

The New Yorker

It was not a hard decision to make.

The New York Times

In the meantime, I had a hard decision to make.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was an extremely hard decision to make.

The Guardian - Sport

"It is a hard decision to make of course," Parker said.

The New York Times

PAGE 5 TOUGH CHOICE FOR COLTS The Indianapolis Colts have a hard decision to make.

The New York Times

Telling people that I have black ancestors was not a hard decision to make.

The New York Times

The premiership-winning coach said "it wasn't a hard decision to make".

The Guardian - Sport

It was a hard decision to make because I think I could still play.

The New York Times - Sports

It's a hard decision to make, but essential to the long-term health of the business".

The Guardian - Business

Which one of us goes?' It was a hard decision to make.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the impact of the decision, follow the phrase "hard decision to make" with a brief explanation of the consequences or factors that made it so challenging.

Common error

Avoid overusing the phrase "hard decision to make" when simpler alternatives like "difficult choice" would suffice. Save it for situations where the decision truly had significant consequences or required extensive deliberation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard decision to make" functions as a descriptor, modifying a noun (decision) to emphasize the difficulty and complexity of making a choice. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage in various contexts, primarily within news and media sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hard decision to make" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a challenging choice. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's prevalent in news and media contexts, indicating its widespread use across various topics. While versatile, it's important to reserve this phrase for situations where the decision truly involves significant consequences or requires careful deliberation. Alternatives like "tough choice to make" or "difficult decision to reach" can be used in less critical scenarios. In essence, "hard decision to make" effectively communicates the complexity and weight associated with making a particular choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tough choice to reach

Replaces "decision" with "choice" and rephrases "to make" as "to reach", emphasizing the process of arriving at a difficult decision.

difficult choice to decide upon

Substitutes "hard" with "difficult" and uses "to decide upon" instead of "to make", highlighting the act of choosing between options.

challenging decision to undertake

Employs "challenging" for "hard" and "to undertake" for "to make", focusing on the commitment required by the decision.

complex judgment to formulate

Replaces "decision" with "judgment" and "to make" with "to formulate", emphasizing the intellectual effort involved.

weighty determination to arrive at

Uses "weighty determination" to convey the seriousness of the decision and "to arrive at" instead of "to make", stressing the culmination of a thought process.

onerous resolution to enact

Substitutes "hard" with "onerous" and "to make" with "to enact", underlining the burdensome nature of the decision and its implementation.

formidable conclusion to draw

Employs "formidable conclusion" for the difficulty of the decision and "to draw" for "to make", focusing on the act of inferring or deducing.

serious call to take

Replaces "decision" with "call" and "to make" with "to take", simplifying the expression while retaining the sense of importance.

significant ruling to pass

Substitutes "decision" with "ruling" and "to make" with "to pass", suggesting a formal or authoritative decision.

trying determination to reach

Uses "trying determination" to convey the effort involved in reaching the decision, and replaces "to make" with "to reach".

FAQs

How can I use "hard decision to make" in a sentence?

You can use "hard decision to make" to describe a situation where choosing between options is challenging. For example, "Choosing between two equally appealing job offers was a "hard decision to make"".

What are some alternatives to "hard decision to make"?

Alternatives include "tough choice to make", "difficult decision to reach", or "challenging decision to undertake" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "hard decision to make" formal or informal?

"Hard decision to make" is suitable for both neutral and slightly formal contexts. It is commonly found in news articles and general discussions, making it versatile for various writing styles.

What makes a decision a "hard decision to make"?

A "hard decision to make" usually involves significant consequences, conflicting values, or uncertainty about the best outcome. It implies that careful consideration and deliberation are required.