help in deciding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "help in deciding" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when you are describing a situation in which another person or factor helps you in making a decision. For example, "My parents had to help in deciding which college I should attend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

In Sam Caldrone's case, Ms. Schwilm said she and her sister, JoAnna Jones, 51, tried LifePath for help "in deciding what Dad would want if he could tell us".

The New York Times - Health

"It might be that they need our help in deciding how their resources should be allocated.

The New York Times

An entrepreneur asks for help in deciding between Harvard and starting a company.

The New York Times

Feel you need some help in deciding what to do next?

The Guardian

Mr. Johnson said Motorola sometimes asked "an independent outside source" for help in deciding whether a patient needed a service.

The New York Times

But doing this gives you very little help in deciding whether you are more or less on the right analytical track.

The New York Times

However, the news was good for financial advisers, as more people are likely to want professional help in deciding what to do with their pension pot, despite the Government promising that retirees will be given free face-to-face guidance.

Independent

The lead author, Andrew Rundle, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia, said the study may help in deciding what kind of clinical follow-up is required with obese men.

The New York Times

The Supreme Court asked the Bush administration yesterday for help in deciding whether to review a patent dispute between Microsoft and AT&T over technology used to improve Internet voice transmissions.

The New York Times

- Provide benefit in strategic planning - Help in deciding the dimensions that should incorporate in product while designing -Help in deciding the level of customization in the product.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

This information can also help in deciding which offences to include and which not.

Crime Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure to avoid repetitive use of "help in deciding". Alternatives like "assist in choosing" or "guide in selecting" can enhance your writing style.

Common error

Avoid using "help in deciding" without specifying what the decision is about. Vague statements like "I need help in deciding" can be confusing. Instead, provide context such as "I need help in deciding which career path to take".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "help in deciding" primarily functions as a verb phrase acting as an auxiliary element in a sentence. It indicates assistance or support provided in the process of making a decision. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "help in deciding" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to denote assistance in the decision-making process. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. As detailed in Ludwig's analysis, this phrase is most commonly found in scientific and news-related articles, with a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences. When using "help in deciding", ensure clarity by specifying the decision at hand and consider stylistic alternatives like "aid in determining" to enhance writing. Avoiding vagueness and maintaining contextual relevance are key to effectively employing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aid in determining

Replaces "help" with "aid" and "deciding" with "determining", focusing on the act of finding something out definitively.

assist in choosing

Substitutes "deciding" with "choosing", emphasizing the selection process.

guide in selecting

Replaces "help" with "guide" and "deciding" with "selecting", suggesting a more directional form of assistance.

support in determining

Emphasizes the backing or resources provided for a decision-making process, replacing "help" with "support" and "deciding" with "determining".

facilitate the decision on

Uses a more formal tone to indicate making the decision process easier.

contribute to the decision about

Highlights the contribution of something to a decision about a topic.

offer insights for

Focuses on providing understanding or clarity, rather than directly assisting in the decision itself.

inform the choice of

Emphasizes the information that guides the process of choosing.

play a role in determining

Indicates involvement in the decision-making without necessarily being the primary helper.

be instrumental in selecting

Implies a critical and vital role in the selection process.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "help in deciding" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, you can use phrases like "aid in determining" or "assist in choosing" to convey a similar meaning with a higher degree of formality.

What's a simple alternative to "help in deciding"?

For simpler alternatives, consider using "assist in choosing" or "guide in selecting", which are more direct and easier to understand.

Is it correct to say "helps in deciding" instead of "help in deciding"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "helps in deciding" when the subject is singular (e.g., "This information helps in deciding"). Use "help in deciding" when the subject is plural (e.g., "These factors help in deciding").

How does "help in deciding" differ from "assist with deciding"?

"Help in deciding" focuses on aiding the decision-making process, while "assist with deciding" implies providing support during the act of deciding. They are largely interchangeable, but the former emphasizes the entire process, and the latter stresses the immediate action.