Grammar question for wordsmiths

[Nader]

This has been bugging me. I dislike the phrase "Make a choice." It doesn't make sense to me. You have a choice or choices, and you can choose. If you make anything, it's a decision. You make a decision. So despite its common usage, is "making a choice" a valid phrase?

[TerryH]

Choice is a variable of choose, chose, chosen. One's choice would be worthy of being chosen. More of a selection by decision. You decide which one to select.

I don't care for "make a choice" either. Strange what keeps us up at night.

[dewolf]

"Make a choice", wouldn't proper grammar be, "make your choice"??

[holtjv]

Never thought about it but it is odd. I think the main reason is the word, "make", since you're not really making anything. Almost like its meaning in this instance was because there was no verb for "to choose" or "to decide".

Would be far simpler to say, "choose".

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by Nader

So despite its common usage, is "making a choice" a valid phrase?

Of course it is.

That is the beauty of language.

Ponder for example:

"They did a doobie."

"Jack did Jill."

[Tobra]

It is choich, like choich snow tires

why don't you just say make a decision if it bothers you so much

[nostatic]

choice | ch ois|
noun
an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities

[looneybin]

if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by looneybin

if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice

You beat me to it...I reckon Neil had it wrong but, "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a decision" just doesn't sound right

[tiwebber]

There are lots of phrases that fall into that category. When cycling with a Swiss guy he asked why we need to "take a $hit". He'd rather "make and then leave one".

[Nader]

Originally Posted by looneybin

if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice

I wondered when the Rush reference would arrive. I figured it was Canadiens' funny English.


Another bothersome phrase is "added bonus." Isn't that redundant? Like "hot water heater?"