withhold judgment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "withhold judgment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising someone to refrain from forming an opinion or conclusion about something until more information is available. Example: "In discussions about controversial topics, it's important to withhold judgment until all perspectives have been considered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

I'm going to withhold judgment on that.

The New York Times

Or do you encourage them to withhold judgment?

The New Yorker

Where they must likely withhold judgment for years yet is on how he handled the aftermath.

The Economist

Mr. Cuomo wrote that he would withhold judgment until he sees how the Senate functions.

The New York Times

At this point, you may still be willing to withhold judgment.

The New York Times

Until they do, the only reasonable attitude is to withhold judgment.

The New York Times

He prefers to withhold judgment on whether a turnaround is at hand.

The New York Times

As for Mayor Vic De Luca of Maplewood, he said he would withhold judgment.

The New York Times

For once, Sprewell agreed with Van Gundy and chose to withhold judgment on the big backcourt.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm going to withhold judgment, but it does go against innocent-before-proven-guilty".

The New York Times - Sports

There seems to be enough disillusionment with Mr Touré's government for many Malians to withhold judgment on the junta.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "withhold judgment" when you want to encourage impartiality and thorough consideration of facts before forming an opinion, especially in sensitive or complex situations.

Common error

Avoid prematurely forming an opinion. Instead of immediately reacting, "withhold judgment" to allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the situation before drawing conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "withhold judgment" functions as an imperative or advisory expression. It's used to urge caution and impartiality in forming opinions, reflecting the idea that conclusions should be deferred until sufficient information is available. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "withhold judgment" is a grammatically correct and very common expression that advises delaying the formation of an opinion until more information is available. As Ludwig highlights, it's frequently used in news, media, and scientific contexts to encourage impartiality and thoughtful consideration. Alternative phrases, such as "reserve judgment" or "suspend judgment", offer similar meanings with slight differences in nuance. When using this phrase, prioritize thorough understanding over hasty conclusions to ensure fairness and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reserve judgment

Implies a more conscious decision to postpone judgment.

suspend judgment

Highlights the temporary nature of withholding judgment.

defer judgment

Suggests postponing judgment to a later time or until more information is available.

delay judgment

Emphasizes the act of postponing the formation of an opinion.

refrain from judging

Focuses on the act of actively avoiding making a judgment.

postpone evaluation

Indicates a delay in the formal assessment of something.

hold off on deciding

Suggests a temporary pause before making a final decision or judgment.

avoid premature conclusions

Highlights the importance of not forming conclusions too quickly.

keep an open mind

Focuses on maintaining impartiality and avoiding preconceived notions.

await further information

Stresses the need to gather more data before forming an opinion.

FAQs

How can I use "withhold judgment" in a sentence?

You can use "withhold judgment" to advise someone to delay forming an opinion. For example, "It's important to "withhold judgment" until all the facts are presented."

What does it mean to "withhold judgment"?

To "withhold judgment" means to consciously avoid forming an opinion or conclusion about something until you have more information or a better understanding of the situation.

What are some phrases similar to "withhold judgment"?

Similar phrases include "reserve judgment", "suspend judgment", and "defer judgment". Each carries a slightly different nuance, but they all convey the idea of postponing one's opinion.

When is it appropriate to use "withhold judgment"?

It's appropriate to use "withhold judgment" when you need to encourage someone to avoid forming a premature opinion, especially in situations where more information is forthcoming or the matter is complex.