Decide vs Take a vote on strike action

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Decide

Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb

Take a vote on strike action

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Decide
 DecideTake a vote on strike action
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈsaɪd/","/dɪˈsaɪdz/","/dɪˈsaɪdɪd/","/dɪˈsaɪdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈsaɪd/","/dɪˈsaɪdz/","/dɪˈsaɪdɪd/","/dɪˈsaɪdɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //teɪk ə voʊt ɒn straɪk ˈækʃən//🇺🇸 //teɪk ə voʊt ɑn straɪk ˈækʃən//
MeaningTo choose something after thinking about it.To decide if workers should stop working.
ExampleI need to decide what to eat for dinner.The workers will take a vote on strike action next week.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelA1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationseventually, finally, ultimately, be able to, be unable to, cannot, against, between, in favour/​favor of, decide for yourself, the task of deciding something, to be decided, eventually, finally, ultimately, be able to, be unable to, cannot, against, between, in favour/​favor of, decide for yourself, the task of deciding something, to be decidedtake a vote, on strike action, take a collective vote
Antonymshesitate, waver, vacillate-
Common mistakesUsing 'decide' without an object (e.g., 'I decide.' should be 'I decide to go.')., Confusing 'decide' with 'deciding' when discussing ongoing choices., Saying 'decide for' instead of 'decide on' for choices.Using 'took' instead of 'take' incorrectly in present contexts., Confusing 'vote' with 'voted' when discussing future actions., Mixing up 'strike' with 'strikes' in plural contexts.
Usage notesUse 'decide' in everyday conversation when you're talking about choices. It's neutral, so it's suitable for any context, but not ideal for very formal writing.This phrase is commonly used in discussions about workplace issues. It's neutral and should be used in formal or semi-formal contexts, like meetings.

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Decide
Take a vote on strike action

Frequently asked questions: Decide vs Take a vote on strike action

What's the difference between Decide and Take a vote on strike action?

Decide: To choose something after thinking about it. Take a vote on strike action: To decide if workers should stop working.

Which is more common: Decide and Take a vote on strike action?

Decide is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Decide: I need to decide what to eat for dinner. Take a vote on strike action: The workers will take a vote on strike action next week.

Can I use Decide and Take a vote on strike action interchangeably?

Not always. Decide and Take a vote on strike action are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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