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Laura F. Spira
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:36 am
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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John Dean wrote:
| Quote: | Laura F. Spira wrote:
Robert Lieblich wrote:
"Laura F. Spira" wrote:
Do you *take* a decision or *make* a decision? Is there a
difference? I can't decide.
Getting a bit self-referential, aren't we?
In my version of English, "make a decision" is standard and "take a
decision" is dialectal. I'll bet others will report exactly the
opposite.
But why doesn't anyone simply decide?
Do you want to amend your original post to "Do you take a decision or
make a decision or simply *decide*? Is there a difference? I
can't decide."?
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That's how it looked before I edited it. I thought I was being artful
rather than self-referential. I think Mr Olcott has worn everyone out.
--
Laura
(emulate St. George for email)
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Paul Wolff
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:46 am
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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In message <dkm2ln$n3n$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk>, Laura F. Spira
<laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> writes
| Quote: | Robert Lieblich wrote:
"Laura F. Spira" wrote:
Do you *take* a decision or *make* a decision? Is there a difference?
can't decide.
Getting a bit self-referential, aren't we?
In my version of English, "make a decision" is standard and "take a
decision" is dialectal. I'll bet others will report exactly the
opposite.
But why doesn't anyone simply decide?
Because there'd be no fun in it. Over-egging puddings and gilding |
lilies is what we do best around here. Mainly the puddings, I'd say.
Speaking of which, we dropped in on the annual Guy Fawkes Night
wine-and-pudding party last night (no club membership required) with a
dozen or more on offer from our Dutch-born hostess. Urban life can't
hold a candle to the social whirl of the English village at full
throttle. Tally-ho!
--
Paul
In bocca al Lupo! |
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Robert Bannister
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:30 am
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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Robert Lieblich wrote:
| Quote: | "Laura F. Spira" wrote:
Do you *take* a decision or *make* a decision? Is there a difference? I
can't decide.
Getting a bit self-referential, aren't we?
In my version of English, "make a decision" is standard and "take a
decision" is dialectal. I'll bet others will report exactly the
opposite.
My feeling is you (one person) make a decision, but a group takes it. |
Some sort of semi-formality involved.
--
Rob Bannister
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Charles Riggs
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:07 am
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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On Mon, 07 Nov 2005 08:30:37 +0800, Robert Bannister
<robban@it.net.au> wrote:
| Quote: | Robert Lieblich wrote:
"Laura F. Spira" wrote:
Do you *take* a decision or *make* a decision? Is there a difference? I
can't decide.
Getting a bit self-referential, aren't we?
In my version of English, "make a decision" is standard and "take a
decision" is dialectal. I'll bet others will report exactly the
opposite.
My feeling is you (one person) make a decision, but a group takes it.
Some sort of semi-formality involved.
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You, or a group, makes a decision, but takes a stand -- in AmE as I
know it, anyway.
--
Charles Riggs |
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Tony Cooper
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:07 am
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 23:16:45 -0600, Michael Nitabach
<mnitabach@acedsl.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Salvatore Volatile <me@privacy.net> wrote in
news:dklliv$mfg$1@news.wss.yale.edu:
Laura F. Spira wrote:
Do you *take* a decision or *make* a decision? Is there a
difference? I can't decide.
A few years ago we had a discussion of this (or more than one
maybe) in AUE. The gist of it is, is, "take a decision" is BrE
(PostRon[say...]?). In AmE we only accept "make a decision".
I have never heard an American use "take a decision".
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Nor have I, but I'm willing to accept that some over-matched American
boxer has said "I'll take a decision".
--
Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL |
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Michael Nitabach
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:07 am
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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Salvatore Volatile <me@privacy.net> wrote in
news:dklliv$mfg$1@news.wss.yale.edu:
| Quote: | Laura F. Spira wrote:
Do you *take* a decision or *make* a decision? Is there a
difference? I can't decide.
A few years ago we had a discussion of this (or more than one
maybe) in AUE. The gist of it is, is, "take a decision" is BrE
(PostRon[say...]?). In AmE we only accept "make a decision".
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I have never heard an American use "take a decision".
--
Mike Nitabach |
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R H Draney
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:12 pm
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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Tony Cooper filted:
| Quote: |
On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 23:16:45 -0600, Michael Nitabach
mnitabach@acedsl.com> wrote:
I have never heard an American use "take a decision".
Nor have I, but I'm willing to accept that some over-matched American
boxer has said "I'll take a decision".
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Take my decision--please....r |
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the Omrud
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:48 pm
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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Ross Howard <gguiri@yahoo.com> spake thusly:
| Quote: | On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 18:43:57 GMT, the Omrud <usenet.omrud@gmail.com
wrought:
Laura F. Spira <laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> spake thusly:
Do you *take* a decision or *make* a decision? Is there a difference? I
can't decide.
I'm sorry to say that I think there's a difference and I might use
either. I'm sorry, because now I have to try to enunciate the
difference.
"take" seems very formal, and I would use it where the decision is to
be published or recorded. "make" seems more personal and I would use
it where the decision is not relevant to others.
So, at work, where money is involved and other people are affected, I
might take a decision, but if I go for a walk and could turn left or
right at the end of the road, I would make the decision.
I agree completely. Why, though, is "decision-making" and not
"decision-taking" part of a manager's job description?
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It occurred to me after I posted yesterday, to point out that the
French expression uses "take". "prendre une décision".
--
David
=====
replace usenet with the |
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Salvatore Volatile
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:12 pm
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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Alan Jones wrote:
| Quote: | Perhaps there's a slight difference in usage. If a committee argued about a
proposal and finally came to a conclusion as to what should be done, I'd say
the committee "took a decision", perhaps because a vote would have been
taken. If the sense were simply "He made up his mind to do it", I'd use
"decided to" or possibly "made a decision to ..." the latter suggesting more
of a mental struggle. I happen to be English, but I don't think this is an
AmE/BrE difference.
|
I think it is (with allowances for TCE, etc.). I believe that AmE would
have "made a decision" or "decided" for both cases.
Then there's AmE "take a shower/bath", which in BrE, unless the Omrud
(FAOBrEU) rules otherwise, is "have a shower/bath".
When I were a toddler I reportedly used the expression "take a haircut",
when in fact idiomatic AmE has "get a haircut". Based on the
contributions of Doc Robin Bignall, in Nottinghamshire, at least, it would
be "have a go at the hairdresser's" I suppose. |
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Pat Durkin
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:06 pm
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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"Michael Nitabach" <mnitabach@acedsl.com> wrote in message
news:Xns97072D7ADB7mnitabachacedslcom@216.196.97.140...
| Quote: | Salvatore Volatile <me@privacy.net> wrote in
news:dklliv$mfg$1@news.wss.yale.edu:
Laura F. Spira wrote:
Do you *take* a decision or *make* a decision? Is there a
difference? I can't decide.
A few years ago we had a discussion of this (or more than one
maybe) in AUE. The gist of it is, is, "take a decision" is BrE
(PostRon[say...]?). In AmE we only accept "make a decision".
I have never heard an American use "take a decision".
|
Nor I. However, I do hear "take lunch" and "take a conference"
following the suggestions "Lets". The former has, apparently, replaced
"do lunch". |
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the Omrud
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:37 pm
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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Pat Durkin <durk183@sbcglobal.com> spake thusly:
| Quote: |
"Michael Nitabach" <mnitabach@acedsl.com> wrote in message
news:Xns97072D7ADB7mnitabachacedslcom@216.196.97.140...
Salvatore Volatile <me@privacy.net> wrote in
news:dklliv$mfg$1@news.wss.yale.edu:
Laura F. Spira wrote:
Do you *take* a decision or *make* a decision? Is there a
difference? I can't decide.
A few years ago we had a discussion of this (or more than one
maybe) in AUE. The gist of it is, is, "take a decision" is BrE
(PostRon[say...]?). In AmE we only accept "make a decision".
I have never heard an American use "take a decision".
Nor I. However, I do hear "take lunch" and "take a conference"
following the suggestions "Lets". The former has, apparently, replaced
"do lunch".
|
"take lunch" sounds like UK upper class English, in fact I think it
would be more common to "take luncheon". There's also an upper class
usage "take wine with X" which means to have a drink with X.
I have never taken a conference; what would I do with one and where
would I keep it?
--
David
=====
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Sara Lorimer
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:13 am
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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Maria Conlon <maria.c-b@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
| Quote: | BTW, I seldom hear the "take" version, but maybe that's because I'm no
longer in the workplace. Others in aue seem to hear the "take" version
regularly. True?
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I've never heard "take a decision," or at least not noticed if I did.
--
SML |
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Alan Jones
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:20 am
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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"Sara Lorimer" <que.sara.saraDELETE@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1h5nga4.ly73nmhcewe8N%que.sara.saraDELETE@gmail.com...
| Quote: | Maria Conlon <maria.c-b@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
BTW, I seldom hear the "take" version, but maybe that's because I'm no
longer in the workplace. Others in aue seem to hear the "take" version
regularly. True?
I've never heard "take a decision," or at least not noticed if I did.
|
Perhaps there's a slight difference in usage. If a committee argued about a
proposal and finally came to a conclusion as to what should be done, I'd say
the committee "took a decision", perhaps because a vote would have been
taken. If the sense were simply "He made up his mind to do it", I'd use
"decided to" or possibly "made a decision to ..." the latter suggesting more
of a mental struggle. I happen to be English, but I don't think this is an
AmE/BrE difference.
Alan Jones |
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R H Draney
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 2:52 am
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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Salvatore Volatile filted:
| Quote: |
When I were a toddler I reportedly used the expression "take a haircut",
when in fact idiomatic AmE has "get a haircut". Based on the
contributions of Doc Robin Bignall, in Nottinghamshire, at least, it would
be "have a go at the hairdresser's" I suppose.
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In the HomespunE of Dan Rather or H Allen Smith it would be "get your ears
lowered"....r |
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the Omrud
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:03 am
Post subject: Re: Decisions, decisions... |
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Salvatore Volatile <me@privacy.net> spake thusly:
| Quote: | Alan Jones wrote:
Perhaps there's a slight difference in usage. If a committee argued about a
proposal and finally came to a conclusion as to what should be done, I'd say
the committee "took a decision", perhaps because a vote would have been
taken. If the sense were simply "He made up his mind to do it", I'd use
"decided to" or possibly "made a decision to ..." the latter suggesting more
of a mental struggle. I happen to be English, but I don't think this is an
AmE/BrE difference.
I think it is (with allowances for TCE, etc.). I believe that AmE would
have "made a decision" or "decided" for both cases.
Then there's AmE "take a shower/bath", which in BrE, unless the Omrud
(FAOBrEU) rules otherwise, is "have a shower/bath".
|
Yes, but. The former is gaining ground for some reason.
--
David
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