making an incorrect decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making an incorrect decision" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing choices or judgments that are not accurate or appropriate. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, I realized that I was making an incorrect decision regarding the project's direction."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Because we have such deep knowledge of the industries that we're in, we truly understand how the credit process works and we've been able to design products that work fantastically well for very large volumes of clients where the risk of making an incorrect decision – it's not measured in a lost sale of a book or an iPad; it's potentially thousands of dollars of bad loan exposure.

Forbes

A bee making an incorrect decision was released from the maze and allowed to try again.

Plosone

The accuracy of the individual's actions depends in part on the quality of the information it possesses, and therefore the animal should devote a significant amount of effort into sampling the environment: this improvement in 'personal information' should in turn lead to a reduction in the animal's chances of making an incorrect decision [2].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This bound shows that the probability of making a incorrect decision using this method decreases quickly as the value of \(m\) increases – e.g. if \(p = \frac{3}{4}\) and \(\varepsilon =.00001\), then \ 92\) applications will be sufficient and if \(\varepsilon = 1.0 \times 10^{-10}\ 10^{-10}\5 applicathens will be sufficient.

SEP

"There's certainly a chance you would make an incorrect decision".

The New York Times

The delays are causing particular hardship to separated families where the Home Office has made an incorrect decision: the appeal success rate in such cases is 40%.

The Guardian

The SFA have charged the Dutchman, 27, with "causing a match official to make an incorrect decision".

BBC

Goncalves was cited for causing a match official to make an incorrect decision by committing an act of simulation in last month's draw with Celtic.

BBC

The Portuguese was cited for beaching disciplinary rule 202, causing a match official to make an incorrect decision by committing an act of simulation.

BBC

The Portuguese has been offered a two-match ban for beaching disciplinary rule 202, causing a match official to make an incorrect decision by committing an act of simulation.

BBC

The Rugby Football League showed a commendable sense of urgency in releasing a statement within three hours of the final whistle, admitting that video referee Steve Ganson had "made an incorrect decision in awarding a try".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To further refine your argument/claim, provide context for the faulty decision. E.g., "making an incorrect decision due to lack of information/experience/etc."

Common error

While grammatically sound, "making an incorrect decision" can sound overly formal in casual settings. Opt for simpler phrases like "making a mistake" or "messing up" when communicating informally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making an incorrect decision" functions as a nominal phrase, typically used as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the action of arriving at a flawed judgment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

45%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "making an incorrect decision" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for describing a flawed judgment or choice. It’s most common in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's best to consider the formality of your setting and choose simpler alternatives when appropriate. The phrase implies a more considered, analytical error rather than a simple mistake. Remember to provide context around the circumstances for the decision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reaching a wrong conclusion

Focuses on the outcome of the decision-making process, emphasizing the incorrectness of the conclusion.

arriving at an erroneous decision

Highlights the outcome of the decision process with an emphasis on the faultiness of the result.

committing an error in judgment

Highlights the cognitive aspect of the decision, framing it as a mistake in one's assessment or reasoning.

exercising poor judgment

Similar to the previous one, but focuses more on the quality of the judgment itself being subpar.

making an ill-advised decision

Emphasizes the lack of wisdom or careful consideration behind the decision, suggesting impulsiveness or recklessness.

making a flawed choice

Emphasizes the selection aspect, indicating that the selected option was not the best one available.

taking the wrong course of action

Focuses on the practical implications of the decision, suggesting that the chosen path leads to undesirable results.

opting for an unsuitable solution

Suggests that the selected solution doesn't fit the problem at hand, leading to inefficiency or failure.

going astray in one's decision-making

Uses a more metaphorical approach to indicate that the decision process deviated from the correct path.

making a blunder in one's determination

Highlights that the determination/assessment was a mistake and an oversight.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "making an incorrect decision" in a professional context?

In professional settings, consider alternatives like "exercising poor judgment", "committing an error in judgment", or "reaching a wrong conclusion" for a more nuanced and formal tone.

What's the difference between "making an incorrect decision" and "making a mistake"?

"Making a mistake" is a broader term referring to any error. "Making an incorrect decision" specifically implies a flawed judgment or choice based on available information, which could still be reasonable but ultimately wrong. One is generic the other is more specific.

Is it ever appropriate to use "making an incorrect decision" in everyday conversation?

Yes, it can be used, but simpler alternatives like "making a wrong choice" or "making a bad call" might sound more natural and less formal in casual conversations. Your choice depends on the desired level of formality and the context of the discussion.

When should I use "making an incorrect decision" over "making a wrong decision"?

The phrases are largely interchangeable. However, "making an incorrect decision" might imply a more analytical or systematic error, whereas "making a wrong decision" could simply mean a choice that led to an undesirable outcome without necessarily implying flawed reasoning.