ill-decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ill-decision' is correct and usable in written English.
You would use it to describe a decision made which had unfortunate or negative consequences. For example: His ill-decision to quit his job cost him his reputation and his financial security.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

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

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 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

There was another ill-fated decision.

The New York Times

It was not his only ill-advised decision.

The New York Times - Sports

Ill-structured decision-making by teams is conceptualized in terms of information exchange.

Decision Support Systems

"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

Tony Carter had an opportunistic pick-six off an ill-advised decision by Newton.

The New York Times

Of course, Knicks fans are sadly accustomed to bumbling, ill-fated decisions.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ill-decision" when you want to emphasize the negative consequences or unfortunate nature of a choice. While grammatically correct, consider more common alternatives like "poor decision" or "ill-advised decision" for broader clarity.

Common error

Avoid stringing together multiple "ill-" prefixed words in a sentence. While "ill-decision" is valid, using too many similar constructions can make your writing sound awkward. Vary your vocabulary for better readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ill-decision" functions as a noun phrase, where "ill-" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "decision". As Ludwig AI points out, this describes a decision with negative or unfortunate consequences.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ill-decision" is a grammatically correct but relatively uncommon way to describe a poor or unfortunate choice. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's usable in written English, carrying a connotation of negative consequences. While understandable, it's often better to opt for more common alternatives like "bad decision", "poor decision", or "ill-advised decision" for improved clarity. Its usage spans across news media and scientific contexts, though it's less prevalent in formal business settings. Using "ill-decision" can effectively emphasize the unfortunate nature of a choice, but remember that clarity should be your top priority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Poor decision

A more common and direct way to describe a bad choice.

Bad decision

A simple and widely understood term for a negative choice.

Unwise decision

Highlights the lack of wisdom in the choice.

Foolish decision

Emphasizes the imprudence of the decision.

Ill-advised decision

Similar in structure, but more common.

Unfortunate decision

Focuses on the negative consequences of the decision.

Misguided decision

Suggests the decision was based on faulty reasoning.

Erroneous decision

Implies the decision was factually incorrect.

Defective decision

Highlights a flaw in the decision-making process.

Counterproductive decision

Focuses on the negative effect the decision has on progress.

FAQs

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

You can use "ill-decision" to describe a choice that had negative or unfortunate results. For example, "His "poor decision" /s/poor+decision to ignore the warning signs led to significant financial losses."

What are some alternatives to "ill-decision"?

Alternatives to "ill-decision" include "poor decision", "bad decision", "unwise decision", and "ill-advised decision". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "ill-decision" a commonly used phrase?

While grammatically correct, "ill-decision" is not as commonly used as alternatives like "bad decision" or "poor decision". Using a more common phrase might improve clarity and readability.

What's the difference between "ill-advised decision" and "ill-decision"?

"Ill-advised decision" is a more common and accepted phrase that explicitly suggests the decision was made without proper consideration or knowledge. "Ill-decision", while understandable, is less frequently used and may sound slightly less natural.