sweeping decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sweeping decision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a decision that has far-reaching implications or effects, often in a legal or political context. Example: "The court's sweeping decision changed the landscape of environmental regulations across the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

But the court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, steered clear of a larger question: whether protections offered by the Supreme Court's sweeping decision in Lawrence v.

The New York Times

Among advocates of giving commercial speech complete First Amendment protection, "it's fair to say this is not the broad, sweeping decision people are waiting for," said Jeff Edelstein, a partner who specializes in advertising law at Hall, Dickler, Kent, Goldstein & Wood, a law firm in New York.

The New York Times

The American Civil Liberties Union hailed the Supreme Court's sweeping decision Friday as historic.

Los Angeles Times

When the American Foundation for Equal Rights AFERR) filed the Prop 8 case on behalf of two California same-sex couples, the original intent of the lawsuit was to secure this kind of broad, sweeping decision from the Supreme Court, a decision that would be in the tradition of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark 1967 decision that ruled interracial marriage bans unconstitutional.

Huffington Post

Even the defense attorneys did not have the temerity to ask for such a sweeping decision.

Cornell University

A sweeping decision that would settle the future of such programs appeared unlikely.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

"Without sweeping decisions from the court, we'll continue to have a patchwork across the country that denies all families equal protection," Mr. Sainz said.

The New York Times

The Pentagon says that it is conducting a case-by-case review of seminars, visits and other contacts with China and that no sweeping decisions have been made.

The New York Times

The president's order-by-social media caught senior military officials by surprise and short-circuited the customary interagency policy process that attends such sweeping decisions.

The New York Times

It means he should give greater weight to decades-old precedent, eschew sweeping decisions and resist broad deference to the executive branch.

The Washington Post

These sweeping decisions affect the conduct of all congressional inquiries and all courts, for from the opinions there emerges a legally enforceable rule for handling hearings or prosecutions when questions raise for the witness a problem of self-incrimination.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "sweeping decision", ensure that the context clearly demonstrates the breadth and significant impact of the decision. Provide specific examples to illustrate its far-reaching consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "sweeping decision" if the decision's effects are limited or localized. Ensure the decision genuinely has broad implications before using this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sweeping decision" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "sweeping" modifies the noun "decision". It is used to describe a decision characterized by its broad scope and significant impact. Ludwig confirms this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sweeping decision" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a decision with significant and far-reaching impacts. As evidenced by Ludwig, its usage is prevalent in news, academic, and professional contexts. When using "sweeping decision", ensure that the context clearly reflects the breadth and transformative nature of the decision to avoid overstating its impact. For alternative phrasing, consider "far-reaching verdict", "comprehensive judgment", or "wide-ranging ruling" to convey similar meanings with nuanced emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far-reaching verdict

Emphasizes the extensive impact of the decision, focusing on the outcome.

comprehensive judgment

Highlights the thoroughness and all-encompassing nature of the decision.

wide-ranging ruling

Stresses the broad scope and applicability of the decision.

extensive resolution

Focuses on the detailed and widespread nature of the resolution reached.

radical determination

Implies a significant departure from previous norms or practices.

landmark adjudication

Highlights the historical importance and precedent-setting nature of the decision.

transformative decree

Suggests the decision leads to substantial changes or reforms.

revolutionary conclusion

Emphasizes the innovative and groundbreaking aspect of the decision.

momentous resolution

Underscores the significant importance and impact of the resolution.

inclusive settlement

Focuses on the wide scope and applicability that includes almost everyone involved.

FAQs

How can I use "sweeping decision" in a sentence?

Use "sweeping decision" to describe a judgment or conclusion that has wide-ranging effects. For example, "The Supreme Court's sweeping decision changed the legal landscape".

What are some alternatives to "sweeping decision"?

You can use alternatives like "far-reaching verdict", "comprehensive judgment", or "wide-ranging ruling" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "sweeping decision" in formal writing?

Yes, "sweeping decision" is suitable for formal writing, especially in legal, political, or academic contexts where its implications can be analyzed with precision. The register is neutral, according to Ludwig.

What's the difference between "sweeping decision" and "important decision"?

While an "important decision" has significance, a "sweeping decision" implies widespread and transformative impact across a broad area. Consider a "far-reaching verdict" to see a phrase with comparable meaning.