ill decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ill decision" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe a decision that is poor in quality or result. For example: "The politician made an ill decision to raise taxes in the middle of an economic recession".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I'm very disappointed that some folks, and even some of our elected leaders, have exploited and politicized this young man's ill decision to take his own life, especially when we have found no evidence that points to any particular motive," Sheriff Treviño said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The argument was that females are fearful and subjected to ill-decision.

BMC Health Services Research

Miss of the Week: Trump's ill-informed, ill-timed decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Huffington Post

The project was ill conceived, decision making was fuzzy, and project management was poor, as one can imagine on basis of the costs which turn out to be 10 fold the initial budget.

City, Territory and Architecture

Unfortunately his new career didn't last long due to an ill timed decision to eat a bacon sandwich on the way to work.

Huffington Post

There was another ill-fated decision.

The New York Times

It was not his only ill-advised decision.

The New York Times - Sports

"She made an ill-advised decision to share that picture with her boyfriend.

The New York Times

His ill-considered decision to double down on Afghanistan could prove fatal.

The New York Times

Ten years later, Iraq remains hostage to an ill-fated decision.

The New York Times

The monolines took the ill-fated decision to start insuring structured credit.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ill decision", consider adding context to explain the negative consequences or flawed reasoning behind it. This provides a clearer understanding of the situation.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "ill decision" can sometimes sound overly informal in highly formal or academic writing. Consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "unwise judgment" or "poorly considered choice" for a more elevated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ill decision" functions as a noun phrase, where "ill" modifies the noun "decision". As noted by Ludwig AI, it describes a decision that is poor in quality or result.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ill decision" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to describe a poor choice or judgment. While Ludwig AI indicates its usage is appropriate, it's worth considering the context and register. More formal alternatives may be preferable in certain situations. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, suggesting its suitability for general and professional communication, but its relatively low occurrence indicates it is not a particularly common expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ill-advised course of action

A more formal alternative emphasizing the negative counsel received.

poorly considered choice

Replaces "ill" with a synonym emphasizing lack of careful thought.

unwise judgment

Substitutes both words with alternatives highlighting a lack of wisdom.

detrimental choice

Focuses on the damaging consequences of the decision.

bad call

An informal alternative that implies an incorrect assessment or choice.

imprudent step

Highlights a lack of foresight and caution in the decision.

unfortunate determination

Emphasizes the negative outcome of the decision-making process.

misguided action

Focuses on the action taken as a result of a flawed decision.

flawed resolution

Highlights the defect in the decision itself.

counterproductive move

Emphasizes that the decision achieved the opposite of the intended result.

FAQs

What does "ill decision" mean?

The phrase "ill decision" refers to a choice or determination that is considered to be poorly thought out, unwise, or leading to negative consequences.

What can I say instead of "ill decision"?

You can use alternatives like "poorly considered choice", "unwise judgment", or "bad call" depending on the context.

Is "ill decision" formal or informal?

The phrase "ill decision" leans towards a slightly less formal register. In highly formal contexts, alternatives like "unwise judgment" may be more suitable.

How can I use "ill decision" in a sentence?

Example: "The company's financial troubles stemmed from an "ill decision" to invest in a failing market."