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Grammar fix

a calculated risk

deliberate risk

an action that involves risk, but where the possible dangers have been carefully considered and judged to be worth taking, often to achieve a specific goal.

collocationC1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • Starting her own business was a calculated risk, but she felt confident after months of research.work
  • In my opinion, taking a calculated risk is sometimes necessary if you want to achieve something significant, especially in business or when changing careers.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: take/run/accept a calculated risk

WrongIt was a calculating risk.

RightIt was a calculated risk.

It's 'calculated' (weighed up); 'calculating' describes a cold, scheming person.

Patterntake/run/accept a calculated risk

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff I undertook a deliberate risk that I had carefully evaluated beforehand.

Natural It was a calculated risk, but I went for it.

Natives compress the whole idea into the fixed phrase 'a calculated risk'; spelling out 'a deliberate risk I'd evaluated' is wordy.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • take a calculated risk
    taketookworth takingdeliberate

Don't confuse it

Unlike 'a risk' (any danger or chance), 'a calculated risk' means the risk has been weighed up and is taken deliberately, not impulsively.

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