unsound decision

USAGE SUMMARY

"unsound decision" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a decision that has been made and is not logical, reasonable, or wise. Example: The board of directors made an unsound decision to invest in a new venture with no prior research or market analysis.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was a fundamentally unsound decision, infringing on the basic right of future voters to choose whether to retain a particularly effective politician or throw a particular rascal out.

The New York Times

We wonder whether this article was written to justify what turns out to be an unsound decision, considering the move by other agencies to proceed with a pilot cholera vaccination campaign (4 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

At any other time, such a timescale might be seen as unsound decision-making that has not taken into account legal, financial and risk considerations.

The Guardian

The adversarial process encourages the parties to discredit each other's scientific or technical evidence, which can lead to politically expedient but technically or economically unsound decisions.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But with top management pushing hard for identifiable productivity increases, there is a real risk that defining productivity too narrowly will lead to unsound decisions by subordinates.

Harvard Business Review

Eventually this economically depressed, largely minority community was taken over by the state, which then proceeded to make a series of unsound decisions that no one in the many overlapping governmental agencies responsible for water quality managed to notice.

The Washington Post

"At the high end, you could reach a point where the Goldman Sachs employee says, 'I'm going to Hoboken.' And at the lower end, you force people to make unsound decisions".

The New York Times

Many of the report's criticisms centered on financially unsound decisions made by the president at the time, John J. Signorelli, who resigned in late April after being fined $2,500 by the state board for failing to follow certain rules.

The New York Times - Sports

Otherwise intelligent, well-mannered managers do all kinds of things they'd never do if they were rested they may get angry at employees, make unsound decisions that affect the future of their companies, and give muddled presentations before their colleagues, customers, the press, or shareholders.

Harvard Business Review

"At the high end, you could reach a point where the Goldman Sachs employee says, 'I'm going to Hoboken.' And at the lower end, you force people to make unsound decisions". But some economists say high housing costs go hand in hand with economic growth, not stagnation.

The New York Times

Arijit Sengupta, founder of BeyondCore, build this platform not only to surface all kinds of correlations, but also to warn the business user about potential hidden factors, in an effort to protect the user from statistically unsound decisions.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unsound decision" when you want to emphasize that a decision lacks a solid basis in logic, reason, or evidence.

Common error

While "unsound decision" is appropriate for formal writing, consider using simpler alternatives like "bad call" or "poor choice" in casual conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unsound decision" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "unsound" modifies the noun "decision". It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence, describing the quality of a specific decision.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unsound decision" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in written English, primarily functioning as a noun phrase to describe a decision lacking logic or reason. According to Ludwig, it conveys criticism of a flawed judgment. While appropriate for neutral to professional contexts like news reports or academic papers, simpler alternatives may be preferred in casual settings. The expression is found across a range of authoritative sources, and while not extremely common, it is well-understood and effective for conveying disapproval of a specific decision. Its frequency, however, is uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ill-advised choice

Emphasizes the lack of wisdom in the selection made.

poor judgment

Focuses on the lack of sound reasoning.

flawed determination

Highlights the presence of errors or weaknesses in the decision-making process.

imprudent call

Suggests a lack of foresight or caution.

unwise resolution

Underscores the lack of wisdom in the final decision.

questionable conclusion

Implies doubt or uncertainty about the decision's validity.

dubious assessment

Indicates skepticism regarding the evaluation leading to the decision.

rash action

Points to impulsivity and a lack of careful consideration.

injudicious act

Highlights the lack of careful thought and planning.

bad call

A more informal way to describe a poor decision.

FAQs

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

You can use "unsound decision" to describe any decision that is not based on good judgment or sound reasoning. For example: "The committee's decision to cut funding for the program was an "unsound decision" that will have negative consequences."

What are some synonyms for "unsound decision"?

Some synonyms for "unsound decision" include "poor judgment", "ill-advised choice", or "flawed determination".

Is "unsound decision" a formal or informal phrase?

"Unsound decision" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for professional or academic writing. In more casual contexts, you might opt for alternatives like "bad call".

What makes a decision "unsound"?

A decision is considered "unsound" when it lacks a solid basis in logic, evidence, or reasoning. It may be based on incomplete information, flawed assumptions, or a lack of careful consideration. An "imprudent call" could also be considered unsound.