sweeping decisions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sweeping decisions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe decisions that have a broad and significant impact, often affecting many people or aspects of a situation. Example: "The new policy introduced by the government includes sweeping decisions that will change the landscape of education for years to come."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 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

While few legal experts expect the justices to issue sweeping decisions recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, neither case could have reached the Supreme Court without Mr. Smith's efforts, Mr. Carpenter insisted.

The New York Times

It seems astonishing that governments have been making sweeping decisions on environmental policy for decades without such a baseline in the first place.One positive sign is the growing interest of the private sector in collecting environmental data.

The Economist

But he was, well, the decider, and if he takes the blame — rightly — for what Donald Rumsfeld wrought, then he should get credit for Gen. David Petraeus's successes in Iraq, and for blessing the sweeping decisions that Hank Paulson and Ben Bernanke made in last September's desperate weeks.

The New York Times

But for industry and policymakers who make sweeping decisions that affect the environment--such as whether to drill for oil on protected lands or build new nuclear power plants--the financial stakes, potential consequences, and complexity of the choices defy a simple weighing of pros and cons.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

The time is past when the Supreme Court, with one sweeping decision, could push race relations in America towards dramatic change.

The Economist

But by a vote of 6-3, she prevailed at the Supreme Court.Young v UPS was not a sweeping decision.

The Economist

Even the most sweeping decision in these cases is unlikely to mark the last time same-sex marriage appears before the Court.

The New Yorker

Adam Liptak of the New York Times thinks the Court will wait until all but a handful of states recognise same-sex marriage before issuing a sweeping decision on the matter.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sweeping decisions", ensure the context clearly indicates the breadth and significance of the decisions being made. Consider the impact these decisions have on various aspects of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "sweeping decisions" if the decisions only have a limited or localized effect. The term implies a widespread and substantial impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sweeping decisions" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "sweeping" modifies the noun "decisions". It describes decisions that are broad in scope and have significant impact. This is supported by Ludwig's analysis, which confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase “sweeping decisions” accurately describes choices with a broad and significant impact, often used in contexts such as policy changes, legal rulings, and strategic planning. As per Ludwig's AI, its grammatical structure is correct, functioning as a noun phrase where "sweeping" modifies "decisions". While "sweeping decisions" typically carries a neutral register, leaning towards formal, its frequency is considered uncommon. The majority of examples appear in News & Media sources, with smaller representation in Science and Formal & Business contexts. Consider using synonyms like "far-reaching decisions" or "comprehensive decisions" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far-reaching decisions

Emphasizes the extent and impact of the decisions across a wide range of areas.

comprehensive decisions

Focuses on the thorough and all-inclusive nature of the decisions.

extensive decisions

Highlights the broad scope and scale of the decisions.

wide-ranging decisions

Similar to 'far-reaching' but with a slightly different emphasis on the diversity of areas affected.

major policy changes

Focuses on changes in policy that are significant and impactful.

radical resolutions

Suggests a complete departure from previous resolutions, implying revolutionary intentions.

transformative choices

Stresses the potential of the decisions to cause significant and lasting change.

impactful judgements

Focuses on how judgements will have an undeniable influence and effect on the overall situation.

wholesale changes

Indicates that changes are made completely, to an extreme extent.

overarching strategies

Underscores how decisions take on a comprehensive, all-encompassing approach.

FAQs

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

You can use "sweeping decisions" to describe decisions that have a broad and significant impact. For example: "The new policy introduced by the government includes "sweeping decisions" that will change the landscape of education for years to come."

What can I say instead of "sweeping decisions"?

You can use alternatives like "far-reaching decisions", "comprehensive decisions", or "extensive decisions" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "sweeping decisions" or "wide decisions"?

"Sweeping decisions" is the correct and more commonly used phrase. "Wide decisions" is less idiomatic and may not convey the intended meaning of broad and impactful choices.

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

"Sweeping decisions" implies a wide-ranging impact and significant changes, while "important decisions" simply indicates that the decisions are significant in some way, without necessarily implying a broad scope. The former is more precise in indicating widespread influence.