undo a decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undo a decision" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of reversing or nullifying a previously made choice or conclusion. Example: "After much consideration, I decided to undo my decision to resign from the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The finance minister, Hans Eichel, is even trying to undo a decision to raise the tobacco tax.

The Economist

He said the court action was an attempt to "short-circuit the process and to undo a decision, a strong bipartisan decision, signed by President Bill Clinton and supported by then-Senator Joe Biden; for this court to overrule it, I think folks are tired of judges dictating".

The New York Times

One Western official said that had the Afghan Independent Election Commission not decided on Monday to undo a decision it made the day before to enforce stricter safeguards, Mr. Karzai's vote total would still be under 50percentt, forcing him into a second election against Mr. Abdullah.

The New York Times

One Western official said this week that had the Independent Election Commission not decided on Monday to undo a decision it made the day before to enforce stricter safeguards, Mr. Karzai's vote total would still be under 50percentt, forcing him into a second election against Mr. Abdullah.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The executive order from Trump on the Keystone XL pipeline threatens to undo a major decision by Obama, who said the project would contribute to climate change because it would carry tar sands crude oil, which is especially greenhouse gas intensive because of the energy it takes to extract the thick crude.

The Washington Post

Obama and his lieutenants have stressed that they wouldn't be able to undo a Supreme Court decision eliminating subsidies in federal exchange states without additional legislation -- and the distance between Democrats and Republicans on how to respond to such a ruling is vast.

Huffington Post

Yet it is a painfully slow business to undo a mistaken procurement decision.

The Guardian

If it passes, it would undo a recent California Supreme Court decision that gave same-sex couples the right to marry.

The New York Times

But that is how long local retailers have waited for Congress to undo a 1992 Supreme Court decision that exempted many online retailers, like Amazon.com, from collecting most state sales taxes.

The New York Times

The Republican-led Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to begin undoing a key decision from the Obama era that could relax regulations on Internet providers.

The Washington Post

Day 35 — Feb. 23: Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that he intends to undo an Obama-era decision to phase out federal use of private prisons, helping prison stocks continue their meteoric rise since Trump's election.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about formal matters, consider stronger verbs like "rescind", "revoke", or "overturn" for a more impactful tone. These verbs are particularly suitable when discussing legal or policy decisions.

Common error

Avoid using "undo" in situations that demand a high level of formality, such as legal documents or academic papers. Opt for more precise and formal alternatives like "rescind" or "revoke" to maintain the appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undo a decision" functions as a verb phrase, where "undo" is the verb and "a decision" is the object. It describes the action of reversing or cancelling a previously made choice, as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undo a decision" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that means to reverse or cancel a previous choice. As verified by Ludwig AI, it's commonly employed in neutral contexts like news and media, although it can also appear in formal or business settings. While more formal alternatives like "rescind" or "revoke" exist, "undo a decision" offers a more accessible way to describe the act of reversing a course of action. Understanding the subtle differences in connotation can greatly enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reverse a decision

Focuses on the act of going in the opposite direction of a previous decision.

rescind a decision

Implies a formal cancellation or revocation of a decision.

overturn a decision

Suggests a decision is invalidated, often by a higher authority.

revoke a decision

Highlights the act of officially taking back or nullifying a decision.

nullify a decision

Emphasizes making a decision void or without legal effect.

repeal a decision

Typically used when referring to laws or regulations being cancelled.

invalidate a decision

Highlights the lack of legal standing or correctness in a decision.

withdraw a decision

Implies removing a decision from consideration or implementation.

cancel a decision

A more general term for stopping or aborting a decision.

reverse course on a decision

Indicates a change in direction or policy regarding a decision.

FAQs

What does it mean to "undo a decision"?

To "undo a decision" means to reverse or cancel a choice that was previously made. It implies taking actions to negate the effects or consequences of that decision.

Which is more formal, "undo a decision" or "rescind a decision"?

"Rescind a decision" is more formal than "undo a decision". Rescind is often used in legal or official contexts.

What are some alternatives to saying "undo a decision"?

Alternatives include "reverse a decision", "revoke a decision", or "overturn a decision", depending on the context.

When might I want to use "undo a decision" instead of a more formal alternative?

Use "undo a decision" in informal contexts or when describing everyday situations. It is appropriate when a lighter, less authoritative tone is desired.