substantial decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial decision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a decision that has significant importance or impact. Example: "The board reached a substantial decision regarding the future of the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"The kids are substantial decision makers".

The New York Times

"It's a very substantial decision," he added.

The New York Times

Combat identification is one example where incorrect automatic target recognition (ATR) output labels may have substantial decision costs.

Computers & Operations Research

The central government has delegated substantial decision making authority to the CHMT over a number of domains, including the opportunity to decide the number and type of lay stakeholders invited to the planning meetings, should the need arise.

BMC Health Services Research

If the primary cause you desire to own a slide scanner is because you need to import your old 35mm slides on the digital age, then that signifies high quality images and substantial decision is critical to you.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"We are going to have to take some substantial decisions and it's fair to start a debate with older people about the different ways the state can tax and support them".

The Guardian

"This week's E.C.B, meeting is unlikely to produce any substantial decisions and will thus remain in the shadow of the political events on both sides of the Atlantic," said Christian Schulz, senior economist at Berenberg Bank in London.

The New York Times

It remains defensible that the Dutch Book argument shows that the probability axioms are something like consistency constraints on partial belief, at least given some substantial decision-theoretic assumptions, unlike the idea that their violation is a pragmatic liability.

SEP

One of the fundamental difficulties is that operational forecasts require high expected earthquake rates to make substantial decisions (e.g., evacuation or other emergency actions), but the probabilities derived from statistical seismicity models are still quite small (Jordan and Jones 2010).

Earth, Planets and Space

Gordon Brown has failed because he has been paralysed, unable to take any substantial decisions at all - except to keep drifting in a Blairite direction.

Huffington Post

When the CEO retired, her successor decided that these detailed operational reports were unnecessary since each business unit already reported its key numbers -- and the big review meetings never resulted in substantial decisions anyway.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantial decision" when you want to emphasize the considerable impact or importance of a choice, especially in formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial decision" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "big decision" or "important choice" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial decision" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "substantial" modifies the noun "decision". It is used to denote a decision that is significant, weighty, or consequential. Ludwig indicates this phrase is correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial decision" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that conveys the significance and impact of a choice. According to Ludwig, its use is appropriate in formal contexts where emphasis on the weight of the decision is desired. While alternatives such as "significant choice" or "weighty decision" exist, "substantial decision" maintains a specific nuance suitable for professional and academic discourse. While the frequency is uncommon it's often found in news, scientific and formal/business source types. Therefore, when aiming to highlight the importance of a decision, "substantial decision" stands as a valuable and precise option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consequential decision

Emphasizes that the decision will have significant results or effects.

weighty decision

Uses a more direct synonym for "substantial", focusing on the seriousness of the decision.

significant choice

Replaces "decision" with "choice", emphasizing the act of selecting between options.

momentous decision

Highlights the historical importance or long-term impact of the decision.

important determination

Substitutes "decision" with "determination", suggesting a firm and resolute conclusion.

major resolution

Emphasizes the finality of the decision, portraying it as a formal resolution.

critical judgment

Highlights the evaluative aspect of the decision-making process.

key conclusion

Focuses on the decision as the endpoint of reasoning or deliberation.

pivotal ruling

Implies the decision has far-reaching consequences and sets a precedent.

influential verdict

Suggests the decision carries weight and has the power to sway opinions or actions.

FAQs

How to use "substantial decision" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial decision" to describe a choice with significant consequences. For example, "The company made a "substantial decision" to invest in new technology".

What can I say instead of "substantial decision"?

You can use alternatives like "significant choice", "important determination", or "weighty decision" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "substantial decision"?

The phrase "substantial decision" is best suited for formal contexts, such as business reports, academic papers, or news articles, where a sense of gravity and importance is desired.

What is the difference between "substantial decision" and "minor decision"?

While "substantial decision" refers to a choice with significant impact, "minor decision" describes a choice that is relatively unimportant and has little consequence.