a common agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

"a common agreement" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to an agreement that is shared by more than one person or group, such as an agreement to do something together or to stop doing something. For example: "We reached a common agreement not to communicate with each other until the conflict was resolved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

(This is not a common agreement over a takeout double.

The New York Times

"All the armed groups have a common agreement to help each other".

The New York Times

If there was a common agreement based on joint consultations, perhaps the community might accept.

The Guardian

They then get together, share each other's documents, and come to a common agreement on the final appraisal.

Harvard Business Review

With the current system, there are so many conflicting interests, a common agreement will likely be very sterile and vague.

Forbes

"The biotech revolution raises big moral issues that scream out for international governance and a common agreement on rules," notes Francis Fukuyama, author of "The End of History".

The New York Times

In addition to the dams, the Dosan smallholders have made a common agreement to stop the practice of slash-and-burn.

The Guardian

It means a greater emphasis on multilateral negotiations that will bring all of the nuclear-armed states, and others, into a common agreement.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Consumerism is on the rise, and there seems to be a more common agreement that the DPRK should experiment with its economic policies in order to move the country forward.

The Guardian

You have 59% among Latinos, so it's clear we're striking a nerve of common agreement in a way that I think is surprising to some people.

TechCrunch

Another possibility, Mr. Shenkman said, would be for all the children to sign a "tenants in common" agreement that spells out each one's responsibility.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, use "a common agreement" when presenting established theories or findings to demonstrate a broad consensus among researchers.

Common error

Avoid using "a common agreement" when you mean something is widely known or accepted as fact. Instead, use phrases like "general knowledge" or "common understanding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common agreement" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. As demonstrated by Ludwig, the phrase is commonly used to denote a shared understanding or consensus among parties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a common agreement" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that signifies a shared understanding or consensus. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread application across different registers. Predominantly featured in News & Media and Science contexts, as evident from Ludwig's examples, it conveys mutual accord reached after negotiation or deliberation. For scenarios demanding similar semantic weight, "general agreement" or "mutual understanding" serve as viable alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

general agreement

Specifies the agreement is general and broad, less formal.

a mutual understanding

Highlights the reciprocity of the understanding, more formal.

a shared understanding

Focuses more on the cognitive aspect of understanding something together, less formal.

a consensus

Implies a broader agreement reached by a group, slightly more formal.

general consensus

Indicates a broad, widely held agreement, more descriptive.

an accord

Suggests a formal agreement, often between nations or groups.

a collective decision

Emphasizes the decision-making process leading to the agreement.

a unified position

Highlights the solidarity and agreement on a particular stance.

a meeting of minds

Emphasizes the process of reaching an agreement through shared thoughts and understanding, slightly more figurative.

a standard agreement

Emphasizes on agreements, contracts, letters of intent, etc

FAQs

How can I use "a common agreement" in a sentence?

You can use "a common agreement" to describe a situation where multiple parties have reached a mutual understanding or consensus. For example: "After lengthy negotiations, the parties reached "a common agreement" on the terms of the contract".

What's the difference between "a common agreement" and "a mutual understanding"?

"A common agreement" implies a more explicit and formalized understanding, often involving specific terms or actions. "A mutual understanding" is a broader, less formal sense of shared comprehension.

What can I say instead of "a common agreement"?

You can use alternatives like "general agreement", "mutual understanding", or "consensus" depending on the context.

Is "a common agreement" formal or informal?

The phrase "a common agreement" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it often appears in more structured or professional settings.