having a course of action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "having a course of action" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing plans, strategies, or decisions that one intends to follow in order to achieve a goal. Example: "After careful consideration, we are having a course of action that will lead us to success in the upcoming project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

By having a course of action readily available for deployment, companies position themselves to tackle challenges as they arise.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

While acetylcholine, for example, acts upon synaptic receptors for only a few milliseconds, neuropeptides have a course of action lasting from several seconds to several days.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Yankees hope to have a course of action for Posada by Friday, after Posada meets with David Altchek, the Mets' team doctor.

The New York Times - Sports

Legislatures could pass laws that clearly establish a citizen's right to record on-duty cops, and provide an enforcement mechanism so that citizens wrongly and illegally arrested for doing so have a course of action.

Huffington Post

"I think that we are going to have a course of new action and that will be vigorously pursued in the next several weeks," he said.

Independent

Having divined a course of action, the good witch can then hint that another character should drop by the library, say, where a future spouse might be hanging out or a clue to a crime spree might be found.

The New York Times - Arts

In comparison to prior literature on this topic, and in contrast to other documented way of treating recipients' untoward conduct as caused by their inability, the paper documents the way in which other peoples' conduct can be explicitly constructed as wrong and, as such, reproachable; thus holding the recipient as culpable for not having avoided a course of action that is not amendable.

Linguistics and Education

"Over the past 20 years, the Ecuadorean Armed Forces have maintained a course of action that, in the midst of the chaos the country has lived through, has managed to transform them into the only institution that enjoyed prestige and respect among the citizenry," said Simon Pachano, an analyst at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences here.

The New York Times

So those who favor Commerce Clause review because they favor decentralization may have picked a course of action with perverse effects; they may have picked the wrong team.

University of Chicago

It's been an amazing journey of gifts, mostly to myself (how selfish) and for a few others I may have cajoled or motivated, or for whom I may have changed a course of action or corrected a wrongdoing.

HuffPost

"The mission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission," the SEC's website explains, "is to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation". Yet, as we have seen, in its rulings on and monitoring of stock buybacks and executive pay over three decades, the SEC has taken a course of action contrary to those objectives.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "having a course of action", ensure the context clearly indicates who is in possession of the plan and what the plan entails. For example, specify "the company is having a course of action" to improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "having a course of action" without clearly defining what the plan or strategy involves. Ambiguity can confuse the reader. Instead of saying "they are having a course of action", specify "they are having a detailed course of action to address the budget deficit".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having a course of action" functions as a noun phrase, indicating the possession or existence of a specific plan or strategy. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, as demonstrated in various real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

6%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having a course of action" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe possessing or deciding on a plan or strategy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, primarily news and media, science, and formal business settings. While alternatives like "devising a plan" or "implementing a strategy" offer nuanced meanings, understanding the specific context is crucial for effective communication. Ensure clarity by explicitly defining the plan and who possesses it to avoid vagueness. By following these guidelines, you can confidently and accurately incorporate this phrase into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possessing a strategy

Focuses on the possession of a well-defined plan.

devising a plan

Emphasizes the creation or invention of a plan.

adopting a strategy

Highlights the active selection and implementation of a specific approach.

implementing a plan

Stresses the execution and putting into action of a previously determined plan.

pursuing a strategy

Focuses on the active following of a particular course.

following a plan

Highlights adherence to an already established plan.

establishing a plan

Focuses on setting up a structured course.

formulating a strategy

Emphasizes the detailed development of a strategy.

outlining an approach

Focuses on defining the key elements of a method.

determining a direction

Highlights the decision-making process regarding a path forward.

FAQs

How can I use "having a course of action" in a sentence?

You can use "having a course of action" to describe possessing or deciding on a plan to achieve a goal. For example, "After the meeting, the team is "adopting a strategy" to increase sales".

What are some alternatives to "having a course of action"?

Alternatives include phrases like "devising a plan", "implementing a plan", or "pursuing a strategy", which all convey the idea of possessing or following a determined plan.

Is it better to say "having a course of action" or "adopting a course of action"?

Both phrases are correct, but ""adopting a strategy"" often implies a more active and deliberate choice, while "having a course of action" simply indicates possession of a plan.

What's the difference between "having a course of action" and "taking action"?

"Having a course of action" implies the existence of a plan or strategy, while "taking action" refers to the act of doing something, which might not necessarily be part of a pre-defined plan.