we decided that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'we decided that' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you and someone else reached a decision together. For example, "We decided that going on a road trip would be the best way to spend our holiday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Then we decided that was silly," Ms. David said.

The New York Times

"We decided that day to solve this problem together.

TechCrunch

We decided that wasn't the life we wanted – we wanted to be footloose and fancy-free.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

We decided that we could proceed".

The New Yorker

"We decided that we would work together.

Independent

"We decided that it was plausible enough".

The New Yorker

So we decided that I would travel.

The New York Times - Sports

We decided that grandma could visit us".

The New York Times

We decided that these are our leaders.

The New York Times

We decided that we had to engage McRae directly.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Didn't we decide that was unconstitutional?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we decided that" when you want to clearly state that a group has come to a specific decision after consideration. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While acceptable, overusing "we decided that" can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "we concluded that" or "we determined that" to add variety, especially in formal reports or academic papers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we decided that" functions as a clause introducer, signaling the beginning of a subordinate clause that expresses a decision or resolution made by a group. As shown by Ludwig, it's a common way to introduce a statement of intent or a conclusion reached after deliberation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we decided that" is a versatile and commonly used phrase to introduce a decision made by a group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and its frequency across various sources, particularly in News & Media, highlights its broad applicability. While suitable for many situations, it's important to be mindful of the tone and register of your writing and consider using synonyms when appropriate to avoid repetition. Remember that this phrase can be used for a decision and resolution made by a group but never for decisions made by a single entity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we concluded that

Replaces "decided" with "concluded", implying a more formal or reasoned decision.

we determined that

Uses "determined" instead of "decided", suggesting a more thorough investigation led to the decision.

we resolved that

Employs "resolved" to indicate a firm decision, often after some deliberation.

we agreed that

Substitutes "decided" with "agreed", emphasizing consensus among the group.

we opted to

Replaces the entire phrase with a verb phrase, making it slightly more concise.

it was our decision that

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the decision itself.

we came to the conclusion that

Adds a more detailed explanation of how the decision was reached.

we made the call to

Uses a more informal expression, implying a decisive action.

our judgment was that

Frames the decision as a matter of judgment or assessment.

we thought it best to

Expresses the decision as a matter of considered preference.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "we decided that" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "we concluded that", "we determined that", or "it was our determination that". These options often appear in academic and professional contexts.

What's a more concise way to express "we decided that"?

If brevity is your goal, you could use phrases like "we opted to" or simply state the decision directly, implying that it was reached collaboratively.

Is there a difference between "we decided that" and "we agreed that"?

While similar, "we agreed that" emphasizes the consensus aspect of the decision-making process, whereas "we decided that" focuses more on the act of making a decision, regardless of the level of agreement. In the end, if there is no agreement is better to make a call from one side without adding the 'we'.

How to make "we decided that" sound more impactful?

To increase the impact, try framing the decision within its context. For instance, "Given the circumstances, "we concluded that" immediate action was necessary."