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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
material a decision
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "material a decision" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a misphrasing and lacks clarity. Example: "We need to make a material decision regarding the budget allocation for next year."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Alternative expressions(20)
critical decision
reach a conclusion
significant decision
momentous decision
make a determination
issuing a decision
hand down a ruling
come to a resolution
substantial decision
issue a decision
magazine a decision
render a verdict
list a decision
safety a decision
consequential decision
issue a justice
problem a decision
research a decision
subject a decision
conclusion a decision
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
When Waste Management refused to make changes, Andersen concluded that the overstatements were not material, a decision that was crucial since the audit opinion states that financial reports "present fairly, in all material respects," the company's financial position.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
By providing him with a mosaic of information from many sources, his defense contended, no single source or piece of information was material to a decision to invest even though, added up, they gave him a vital edge as an investor.
News & Media
If the tenant knew that a developer could save him 30% on energy costs by specifying certain equipment or materials, a different decision might be made, Connolly reasons: "But because the developer mostly does not know who the tenant will be, they can't justify the extra expense".
News & Media
The educational materials entitled 'Making a decision about treatment-focused genetic testing' were developed by the research team on the basis of the information preferences expressed by women in our qualitative interviews.
Science
After gathering the facts, the SSA will review your materials before making a decision.
Wiki
More important, the State Historic Preservation Office had reviewed Al's materials and come to a decision.
News & Media
In fact a material selection decision should capture not only the functional performance required for the application but should also consider the economical and environmental impacts originated all along the product life cycle.
"The home secretary will consider the report alongside all other relevant material and aims to reach a decision as soon as is consistent with dealing fairly and properly with this case".
News & Media
Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Dianne Feinstein of California, Thomas Carper of Delaware and Benjamin Cardin of Maryland wrote to Comey and the attorney general, Loretta Lynch, to insist on a thorough briefing by Monday about Comey's decision to tell congressional officials about new material from an "unrelated case" – a decision that shook the campaigns with only 10 days to go.
News & Media
According to Lord Dyson, this was not justified as "the importance of Anisminic is that it showed that a material error of law renders a decision a 'nullity' so that the decision is in principle judicially reviewable".
Wiki
One approach to facilitating such communication is to provide support for both clinicians and patients, via accessible and targeted educational material in a form of a decision aid tool.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When you need to express that a decision is significant, replace the phrase "material a decision" with "significant decision" or "substantial decision".
Common error
Be careful when choosing adjectives to describe a decision. Using adjectives that don't commonly collocate with "decision" can lead to awkward or incorrect phrasing. Stick to established combinations like "important decision" or "critical decision".
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "material a decision" is an attempt to express the importance or significance of a decision, but it is not grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms this with its assessment that the phrase is not correct in written English. It seems that the intention is to qualify a decision as being substantial or relevant.
Frequent in
News & Media
36%
Science
54%
Wiki
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "material a decision" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Ludwig AI flags it as such. While the intention might be to emphasize the significance of a decision, better alternatives include "significant decision", "substantial decision", or "material decision". Usage is rare, and even when it appears in sources like The New York Times or Science publications, it's often part of a larger, more complex sentence structure where the intended meaning can still be gleaned, despite the grammatical error. Therefore, it is recommended to use the correct phrase, "material decision".
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
significant decision
Replaces "material" with "significant", emphasizing the importance of the decision.
substantial decision
Uses "substantial" to highlight the considerable impact of the decision.
key decision
Emphasizes the importance of the decision as a crucial factor.
critical decision
Highlights the decisive nature and potential consequences of the decision.
important decision
A general term indicating the decision carries weight and significance.
relevant decision
Focuses on the decision's pertinence to the matter at hand.
influential decision
Indicates the decision has the power to affect outcomes or other decisions.
impactful decision
Highlights the potential effects and consequences of the decision.
consequential decision
Emphasizes that the decision will likely lead to significant results.
momentous decision
Suggests the decision is historically significant or of great importance.
FAQs
What does "material" mean in the context of a decision?
In the context of a decision, "material" typically means significant or important. However, the phrase "material a decision" is grammatically incorrect. A better way to phrase this would be "material decision".
What can I say instead of "material a decision"?
Instead of "material a decision", you can use phrases like "significant decision", "substantial decision", or "important decision".
Is it correct to say "material a decision"?
No, the phrase "material a decision" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to say "material decision".
Which is correct, "material a decision" or "material decision"?
"Material decision" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Material a decision" is not grammatically sound.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested