Do you take a decision or make a decision? Generally, Americans make decisions, while the British may do either. Take and make in this situation are what are known as light verbs, meaning they don’t add much to the sentence, since you could just as easily use the word decided. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Taking and Making Decisions”
Hello, you have A Way with Words.
Hi, this is Valerie calling from Haverford, Pennsylvania.
Hi, Valerie. Welcome to the show.
Thank you.
I have a question, and it’s kind of a finer point, but I’m wondering why sometimes decisions are taken and why sometimes they’re made. Because for me, it feels natural to say I made a decision to do something. But once in a while, I see or hear a construction along the lines of, like, for example, the decision was taken at the highest level. And I did a little bit of internet search that suggested there might be a British-American divide. But since I read that, I’ve heard both usages in both contexts. So I’m wondering if you can explain what the difference is.
That’s a good point. So your internet Googling showed you that taken is more British and made is more American?
Yeah, that’s what it seemed to suggest.
But you also, did you notice any other kind of difference between the two?
It seems like taken is more often used passively, but that could just be a selective observation.
It’s a little bit more removed?
Well, saying the decision was taken at the highest level, whereas I might more often hear I made a decision or so-and-so made a decision.
Yeah, yeah, very good point.
Yeah, your Googling served you well because it is far more common to hear taken in British English rather than American English. Make a decision is far, far more common, and so is decision maker versus decision taker. We refer to those words in that context as light verbs, make and take in that kind of situation. Did you come across that?
No, I didn’t see that.
Yeah, it’s, as you said, sort of a subtle distinction. In this context, the words don’t really add that much meaning. Make a decision is a little bit different than saying, I decided, isn’t it? You know, if your boss says, I made a decision to fire the entire staff, that’s a little bit different than saying, I decided to fire the entire staff. Don’t you think?
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I’m thinking.
Subtle, but it’s a difference.
Exactly.
Yeah, it’s very subtle. And I think the fact that those are both light verbs, make and take in those situations, may be why they’re two different ways of saying it.
Yeah, it’s a choice. English is so filled with synonyms for things, and usually we force the two approximate synonyms even further apart. In this case, it sounds like, Martha, we’ve got a little bit of one is a little more removed, one feels a little more personal, one is a little more formal, one is a little more informal. And in that way, we make the decision as we’re writing and speaking.
Yeah, yeah. I think in the language of diplomacy and that kind of thing, you might hear take more than make.
Yeah, I don’t know that when the UN meets that anyone ever makes a decision. I think they only take decisions.
Well, thank you for helping me out.
Yeah, sure. Thanks for calling. Much appreciated.
Okay. Bye-bye.
Have a good day.
Okay. Bye-bye.
If you’ve got an ear like Valerie’s, give us a call, 877-929-9673, and tell us what you’ve noticed about making a decision on one word or the other. You can also email us, words@waywordradio.org.
