was not decided

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not decided" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a decision has not yet been made regarding a particular issue or situation. Example: "The location for the conference was not decided until the last minute, causing some confusion among the attendees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That figure was not decided at random.

The New York Times - Sports

This issue was not decided in the 1960s.

The Economist

Unfortunately, Maaloula's fate was not decided by its residents alone.

The Economist

The outcome was not decided until the final seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

Newman's other holding on tippee knowledge of the tipper's personal benefit was not decided in Salman.

Columbia University

It is irresponsible that the command sequence was not decided before the military operation was launched.

The New York Times

"Our fate was not decided in Normandy or in Belgium," wrote Sartre, "but in the USSR".

The Economist

In 2003, the race winner was not decided until five days later.

The New York Times - Sports

The game was not decided until the final play, a heave by Watkins that was intercepted.

The New York Times - Sports

Whether eastern Galicia, with Lvov, should be Polish or Ukrainian was not decided.

Britannica

Unlike 2000, this election was not decided by just one state.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not decided", ensure the context clearly indicates what decision is pending. For example, "The venue for the conference "was not decided" until the last week."

Common error

Avoid using "was not decided" without a clear subject. For instance, instead of "It was not decided", specify "The matter "was not decided" at the meeting."

Linguistic Context

"Was not decided" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence did not actively make a decision. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. The phrase typically appears within a clause that provides context regarding what decision is pending.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

31%

Science

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was not decided" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that a decision has not yet been reached. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic sources, its communicative purpose is to convey a lack of resolution or existing uncertainty. While versatile and suitable for many contexts, ensuring clarity about the pending decision is essential. Alternatives like "remained unresolved" or "stayed undetermined" offer similar meanings, adjusting the nuance. In summary, "was not decided" is a reliable phrase for expressing the absence of a decision, provided it's used with a clear context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained unresolved

This alternative emphasizes the continuation of the undecided state.

stayed undetermined

Focuses on the lack of determination or finalization.

has not been determined

This uses the present perfect tense to emphasize that a decision is still pending.

was left open

Highlights the availability of future decision-making.

was not finalized

Emphasizes that the process was incomplete.

was pending resolution

Implies that there is an expectation of future resolution.

was up in the air

An idiomatic expression that conveys uncertainty.

no decision had been reached

Highlights the absence of a concluded decision-making process.

the matter was still open

Suggests the issue is available for reconsideration.

it hadn't been settled

Indicates that a settlement or final agreement was not achieved.

FAQs

What does "was not decided" mean?

The phrase "was not decided" means that a particular issue, matter, or question hasn't reached a conclusion or final decision. It indicates a state of uncertainty or a lack of resolution.

How to use "was not decided" in a sentence?

You can use "was not decided" to indicate that a decision is still pending. For example: "The final date for the project launch "was not decided" until the end of the quarter."

What can I say instead of "was not decided"?

You can use alternatives like "remained unresolved", "stayed undetermined", or "has not been determined" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has not been decided" instead of "was not decided"?

Yes, "has not been decided" is grammatically correct. "Has not been decided" implies that the decision is still pending in the present, whereas "was not decided" indicates that the decision wasn't made at a specific point in the past, but it might still be pending.