it declines to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it declines to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that someone or something is refusing or choosing not to do something. Example: "The committee has reviewed the proposal, but it declines to approve the funding request."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It declines to explain its initial refusal and bizarre reasoning and states, with further worrying logic, that since, following your letter, a customer services operative spoke to your father by phone it didn't see the need to reply to you or to confirm his cancellation in writing.

The Guardian - Money

But as ICE boasts about its strict enforcement tactics, it declines to acknowledge the jarring impact these raids have on US soil: Many students have simply stopped going to school.

Vice

But the company never admitted wrongdoing, and to this day it declines to say that its top executives were guilty of any crime.

The New York Times

population is predicted to decrease in all scenarios; in the most extreme scenario, it declines to 1% of its current value (Table 3).

Evolutionary Applications

NICE Actimize says its revenues are steadily rising, though it declines to give figures.

The Economist

But if you begin by distinguishing between the core religious stance of awe before the wonders of the world and the innumerable ways of striking that stance, the state can be seen as honoring the religious impulse — defined broadly and not tied narrowly to specific observances — even when it declines to honor one of its nonessential instantiations.

The New York Times

And Totes, although it declines to discuss sales data, describes its relationship with Rihanna as "invaluable".

The New York Times

In the words of Yuan Peng, of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations in Beijing, America's complaint is "not that China says no to global responsibility or denies its role in world affairs, but rather that it declines to say yes to every US request".Accommodation is easy when that means letting China do what America wants.

The Economist

(I won't spoil any surprises by saying just who.) At one point the movie's titular heroes drop in on a friend who's having a "bottomless" party at which there seem to be only female guests, and the movie loses some credibility when it declines to show the full extent of its stars' eventual participation in the festivities.

The New York Times

Dell also manages 73,000 desktops in Europe and the U.S. for Honeywell's aerospace division, which used to manage that work in-house using its own IT staffers and a service provider it declines to name.

Forbes

Sartre saw this notion as revealing a dynamic consciousness without contents the basis for his conception of freedom while Camus is pleased that intentionality follows the absurd spirit in its "apparent modesty of thought that limits itself to describing what it declines to explain" (MS, 43).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it declines to" to convey a formal or neutral tone when indicating that an entity is refusing to provide information, take action, or express an opinion. It's suitable for journalistic, academic, and business writing.

Common error

Avoid using "it declines to" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "it won't" or "it's not going to" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it declines to" functions as a verb phrase expressing refusal or unwillingness. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and frequently used. Examples show its use in denying information or action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it declines to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a formal refusal or unwillingness. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples demonstrating its prevalence in news, science, and business contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to professional settings, with alternatives like "it refuses to" or "it chooses not to" available for nuanced expression. Remember to avoid using "it declines to" in informal settings, opting for simpler phrasing to maintain a natural tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it refuses to

Direct synonym, expressing a firm rejection or unwillingness.

it chooses not to

Indicates a conscious decision against doing something.

it opts out of

Suggests a deliberate decision to not participate.

it is unwilling to

Highlights the lack of willingness or enthusiasm.

it is not inclined to

Implies a lack of desire or preference.

it resists

Focuses on the act of opposition or resistance.

it withholds

Emphasizes the act of keeping something back.

it abstains from

More formal, suggesting a deliberate refraining from something.

it begs to differ

Expresses disagreement or unwillingness to accept a particular view.

it demurs

Formal and polite way of expressing refusal or objection.

FAQs

How can I use "it declines to" in a sentence?

Use "it declines to" when you want to state formally that a subject is refusing to do something. For example, "The company "it declines to" comment on the ongoing investigation".

What are some alternatives to "it declines to"?

You can use alternatives like "it refuses to", "it chooses not to", or "it is unwilling to" depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "it declines to" formal or informal?

"It declines to" is generally considered a formal phrase. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives such as "it won't" or "it's not going to" are more appropriate.

What does "it declines to" imply?

"It declines to" implies a conscious decision not to do something, often suggesting a refusal to provide information, take responsibility, or participate in a specific action. It can also indicate a desire to avoid further discussion or scrutiny.