make decisions about (decide on)

Writers often default to "make decisions about" out of habit, but "decide" or "decide on" is usually clearer for a single, concrete choice. Below are crisp rules, plenty of paired examples for work, school, and casual contexts, and ready-to-use rewrites so you can spot and fix the phrasing fast.

Short answer

Use decide (or decide on) for choosing a single option. Reserve make decisions about when you mean a process, repeated choices, or a formal policy decision. Prefer the shorter form for clarity.

Decide / decide on = pick one option or reach a clear outcome.
Make decisions about = emphasize ongoing deliberation, multiple separate choices, or procedural/policy work.
If you can swap in the verb "pick" and the sentence still works, use decide.

Core explanation

Decide is the verb of choice: it signals a single resolved choice. Decide on pairs the verb with a noun phrase (decide on a date, decide on a supplier). Make decisions about is longer and focuses attention on the decision-making activity itself - useful for committees, policies, or repeated judgment calls.

Grammatically both forms are fine, but tone and clarity differ. For concise writing, prefer decide when the goal is a specific choice; use make decisions about when you want to highlight deliberation or ongoing responsibility.

When to keep "on": Use decide on before a noun phrase (decide on a vendor). Drop on when decide introduces a clause (decide who, decide whether).
Style note: Decide upon is more formal or old-fashioned; decide on is common and concise.

How it sounds in real writing

Reading real sentences helps you hear the difference. Below, each pair shows the wordier version and a tighter alternative. Use the tighter version when you mean a single choice; keep the longer one when you mean a process or repeated judgments.

Wrong vs right examples you can copy

Work - Wrong: We need to make decisions about which CRM to use by Friday. Work -
Right: We need to decide on a CRM by Friday.
Work - Wrong: The team must make decisions about feature prioritization every sprint. Work -
Right: The team must decide on feature priorities each sprint.
Work - Wrong: Managers make decisions about hiring and pay policies. Work - Right (process intended): Managers make decisions about hiring and pay - this phrasing is fine when emphasizing procedure.
School - Wrong: The committee needs to make decisions about essay topics. School -
Right: The committee needs to decide on the essay topics.
School - Wrong: Students should make decisions about their final project direction early. School -
Right: Students should decide on a final project direction early.
School - Wrong: Faculty make decisions about grading standards each term. School - Right (process intended): Faculty make decisions about grading standards - use this when you mean recurring, formal choices.
Casual - Wrong: We need to make decisions about where to meet for dinner. Casual -
Right: We need to decide where to meet for dinner.
Casual - Wrong: They kept making decisions about the route every few miles. Casual -
Right: They kept deciding on the route every few miles. (Both are acceptable; decide on emphasizes the immediate choice.)
Casual - Wrong: Let's make decisions about weekend plans tonight. Casual -
Right: Let's decide on our weekend plans tonight.

How to fix your own sentence

Fixing this issue is quick if you follow three simple steps: identify whether you mean a single choice or an ongoing process, substitute the concise verb where appropriate, and reread for tone.

Step 1: Decide if you mean one resolved choice or a procedural/repeated decision.
Step 2: Replace wordy phrasing with decide (or decide on + noun) when a single choice is intended.
Step 3: Reread and smooth the sentence for natural rhythm.

Rewrite - Work: Original: "This project will require us to make decisions about vendors soon."
Rewrite: "We must decide on a vendor soon."
Rewrite - School: Original: "The group needs to make decisions about which theories to test."
Rewrite: "The group needs to decide which theories to test."
Rewrite - Casual: Original: "We should make decisions about weekend activities."
Rewrite: "We should decide on our weekend activities."

A simple memory trick

Connect form to meaning: picture decide as the action that ends a choice. If you can imagine "pick" substituting comfortably, choose decide. If you picture a committee reviewing options over time, keep make decisions about.

Pick = decide (single destination).
Policy review = make decisions about (ongoing responsibility).
Scan your drafts for the longer phrase and replace when a single decision is intended.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Once spacing or phrasing slips, nearby forms often follow. A quick pass for related problems saves time.

choose vs. choose on (prefer choose or decide depending on tone)
decide upon vs. decide on (style difference)
overly wordy verbs (e.g., take the decision vs. decide)
confused verb forms and unnecessary prepositions

FAQ

Is "make decisions about" grammatically wrong?

No. It's grammatically correct. The advice here is about style: the phrase emphasizes the decision-making process and can sound wordy if you mean a single, concrete choice.

When should I use "decide upon" instead of "decide on"?

Decide upon reads slightly more formal or old-fashioned. In most modern writing, decide on is clearer and preferred.

Can I drop "on" after decide?

Yes when decide is followed by a clause: "decide who," "decide whether." Use decide on before a noun phrase: "decide on a vendor." Rhythm and clarity sometimes allow decide + noun without on, but decide on is the safe choice before a noun.

How do I rewrite if I actually mean an ongoing process?

Be explicit: use verbs like review, set, establish, or manage. Example: change "make decisions about remote work" to "establish and review the remote-work policy" or "manage remote-work decisions."

Does choose always replace decide?

Often, but choose suggests personal preference and is a touch more casual. Decide is neutral and works across formal and informal contexts.

Fix a sentence now

Paste a sentence that uses make decisions about or decide on into the checker below, or drop it here for 2-3 concise rewrites tailored to work, school, and casual tones.