Decide on something vs Decide about something

Both 'decide on something' and 'decide about something' are commonly used phrases in English. They are interchangeable in many contexts, but 'decide on something' is slightly more common and idiomatic when referring to making a choice or reaching a decision. 'Decide about something' can also be used, especially when discussing a topic or issue.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 1735 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Decide on something "

This phrase is used when making a choice or reaching a decision about something specific. It indicates the selection of a particular option or course of action.

Examples:

I need to decide on a color for the walls.
Have you decided on a location for the party?
She couldn't decide on which dress to wear.
Let's decide on a date for the meeting.
They finally decided on a name for the new product.

Show examples from the web [+]

So I'm trying to decide on something l did more recently or one of my older pieces, l don't know.
We decide on something, and something comes out of it in the end that has some effect or other.
Before we come to decide on something at first reading, the national parliaments will be given the chance to say something about it.
Did you decide on something to drink or what?
If I decide on something, I usually do it
I hope that, although our document comes slightly late in the day, the Summit will decide on something practical in this regard over the next few days and not confine itself to making token or rhetorical statements.
Everything stops, because a Belgian judge has to decide on something which is in fact a European case.
In this second, consciously or unconsciously, the minute you decide to focus on something you've got to give it a meaning, and whatever that meaning is produces emotion.
rapporteur. - Mr President, it is not usually the rapporteur who decides on whether something is incorrect or not.
No, but I did decide something.
We're just trying to decide something.
They're trying to decide something.
We decide something, that's it.
You can't ask us to decide something like this.
Apparently the Commission cannot decide something without consulting all fifteen Member States on their opinion on the protection of the Baltic Sea.
Second of all, we need you guys to decide something for us.
- I finally get to decide something?
How can you just decide something like that?
He is not old enough to decide something like this for himself.
And if we decide something isn't for us, we cut it loose ruthlessly.

Alternatives:

make a decision about something
choose something
select something
pick something
opt for something

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Decide about something "

This phrase is also used when discussing a topic or issue, indicating the act of making a decision or forming an opinion about it.

Examples:

We need to decide about the budget for next year.
Have you decided about your future plans?
Let's decide about the best course of action.
They are still deciding about the proposal.
She couldn't decide about the right approach to take.

Show examples from the web [+]

Right, so she decides to do something about it.
Best we cut and run before the coppers decide to do something about the betting.
Last night he decides to do something about it.
So he decides to go back to his coffin and sleep for 100 years until Congress decides to do something about the Depression.
This marine comes back from the war, suffering from PTSD, finds crime on the rise in his neighborhood, decides to do something about it.
The report refers to corruption and fraud; many people are sick of government corruption and fraud and decide to do something about it, and we are supposed to construe that here as terrorism.
And before we processed this betrayal, Howard says calmly He decides to do something about his hair problem And he'll appreciate it if we kindly refrain from making it
He decides to spill the beans about something that happened in reform school back in the day.
We also decide about money for employing people.
The national parliaments get to decide about the principle of subsidiarity.
You should decide about his organs.
His mom wants me to decide about his organs.
Then we can decide about supper.
The school board will decide about further measures.
The sun, Uranus and Saturn will help you to decide about very important projects.
They don't seem able to decide about their divorce.
Then we can decide about supper.
We've got to decide about being rescued.
Come back here and decide about the man that came to dinner.
Countries have to decide about sustainable and fair financing.

Alternatives:

make a decision about something
form an opinion about something
determine something
resolve something
come to a decision about something

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Decide on something vs Decide about something