wise course of action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wise course of action" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting or recommending a decision or behavior that is considered prudent or sensible in a given situation. Example: "After careful consideration of the risks involved, I believe that taking a step back and reassessing our strategy is the wise course of action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"I think it's a wise course of action," he said, "simply because of the unknowns".

The New York Times

Why would the International Olympic Committee think that appeasing the dictators of China now is a wise course of action?

The New York Times

A wise course of action would have reduced racial tensions in the high school, not inflamed them.

The New York Times

AFTER 14 years as a renter in the same building, Karen Schnelwar believed that buying a one-bedroom was a wise course of action.

The New York Times

An alternative, and probably less wise, course of action would be to appoint a special prosecutor to probe Wall Street wrongdoing.

The New Yorker

David Snow, executive editor at Private Equity International, a research firm, said that the $30 million settlement was a wise course of action by Riverstone.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

But there is no guarantee that institutional shareholders will always propose wise courses of action, nor that all of them will show integrity.

The New York Times

I've been a Democrat all my life and I think I can honestly say that the collegial efforts of the Democratic Party at wisdom to create great and wise courses of action is not appreciably higher than that of the Republicans.

University of California, Berkeley

"That's the wisest course of action".

The Guardian

None of this means that an intervention is never the wisest course of action.

The New York Times

The wisest course of action would have been to sneak away.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex situations, use "wise course of action" to suggest a solution that balances risks and benefits.

Common error

Avoid using "wise course of action" in situations where a simpler phrase like "good idea" or "smart choice" would suffice. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wise course of action" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes a recommended or considered strategy, plan, or decision. As seen in Ludwig, this phrase indicates a thoughtful and judicious approach.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wise course of action" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that recommends a thoughtful and prudent approach. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase appears predominantly in News & Media and Academic contexts, suggesting its use in both formal and neutral settings. While various alternatives like "prudent approach" or "sensible strategy" exist, "wise course of action" specifically emphasizes the wisdom and foresight behind a recommended decision. When writing, remember to reserve this phrase for situations where a considered and judicious solution is truly warranted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

best course of action

Adds emphasis by suggesting it's the single best option.

most sensible plan

Replaces wise with its synonym sensible, plan is synonym of action.

prudent approach

Replaces "course of action" with a more general term and emphasizes carefulness.

sensible strategy

Focuses on the strategic aspect and highlights rationality.

judicious decision

Emphasizes the decision-making aspect and implies good judgment.

intelligent plan

Highlights the thoughtfulness and planning involved.

sound decision making

It focuses on the act of making a sound decision rather than just the course of action itself.

smart move

A more informal alternative emphasizing cleverness.

sagacious step

Replaces "wise" with a synonym suggesting profound insight.

recommended action

Focuses on the aspect of providing a recommendation

FAQs

How can I use "wise course of action" in a sentence?

You can use "wise course of action" to recommend a decision or behavior that is considered prudent or sensible, like in the sentence, "After considering all options, we believe that reducing our spending is the "wise course of action"".

What are some alternatives to "wise course of action"?

Some alternatives include "prudent approach", "sensible strategy", or "judicious decision" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "wise course of action" or "smart course of action"?

"Wise course of action" implies deeper understanding and foresight, whereas "smart course of action" simply suggests cleverness or intelligence. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "wise course of action" and "appropriate course of action"?

"Wise course of action" emphasizes the prudence and good judgment behind a decision, while "appropriate course of action" suggests that the decision fits the situation or meets the requirements.