a consensus existed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a consensus existed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a general agreement or shared opinion was present among a group of people at a certain time. Example: "In the early stages of the project, a consensus existed among the team members regarding the proposed strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

China said Monday that such a consensus existed.

The New York Times

Even if a consensus existed on precisely what the regulatory quality index measured, converting a soft concept into a hard number raises other concerns.

The New York Times

In fall of this year, Adobe hosted artists and educators, philanthropists and policymakers from around the country to see if a consensus existed and to talk about an action agenda.

Huffington Post

Until recently, a consensus existed that pharmaceutical production in Africa was not viable or sustainable.

Globalization and Health

Until recently, a consensus existed that Africa-based industry would not be able to produce quality pharmaceuticals at competitive prices, and that a local critical mass of industrial and socio-economic development was required to allow the industry to survive [ 5].

Globalization and Health

Although a consensus existed regarding the fact that ABA has to be exported from cells by a transporter, it was debated whether an importer is required, since under standard conditions the apoplast exhibits a pH of 5.5 6, a condition where a large proportion of ABA is protonated and easily diffuses through membranes.

Biochemical Society Transactions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But others, to put it mildly, question whether a consensus exists.

The New York Times

Just because a consensus exists, though, doesn't mean that the consensus is correct.

The New York Times

Whatever the approach, a consensus exists on one point: assessment in higher education will never look the way it does in K-12, with its emphasis on high-stakes tests required for graduation or grade promotion.

The New York Times

But unlike in Washington, where a consensus exists among establishment Republicans, the fault lines in the states — where the issue is even more visceral and immediate — are not predictable.

The New York Times

The panel met for the first time on February 25th.A consensus exists among many Japanese politicians, not to mention Japan's friends in Washington, that Mr Abe must unambiguously repeat his predecessors' expressions of remorse.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a consensus existed", ensure the timeframe is clear. Specify when the consensus was present to avoid ambiguity, for example: "In the 1980s, a consensus existed regarding the need for stricter environmental regulations."

Common error

Avoid implying that the consensus still holds true if it no longer does. If the agreement is no longer valid, make it clear that the consensus was only present at a specific point in the past: "While a consensus existed previously, current opinions are now divided."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a consensus existed" functions as a statement asserting that a general agreement or shared opinion was present at a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, suggesting that it aligns with standard grammatical conventions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a consensus existed" is used to indicate that there was a general agreement or shared opinion in the past. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and is mostly found in News & Media and Science contexts. When employing this phrase, clarity regarding the timeframe of the consensus is essential. While other options such as "there was an agreement" or "everyone was in agreement" can substitute the main query, their nuances depend on the specific scenario.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there was a consensus

Replaces the verb "existed" with "was", a more common and direct form.

an agreement was in place

Substitutes "consensus" with "agreement" and "existed" with "was in place", emphasizing the established nature of the agreement.

a shared view prevailed

Replaces "consensus" with "shared view" and "existed" with "prevailed", indicating a dominant opinion.

a common understanding was reached

Uses "common understanding" instead of "consensus" and "was reached" instead of "existed", highlighting the process of coming to an agreement.

there was unanimity

Replaces "a consensus" with "unanimity", suggesting complete agreement.

everyone was in agreement

This alternative clearly articulates that all participants agreed.

a general accord was present

Uses "accord" as a synonym for "consensus" and "was present" for "existed", formalizing the tone.

the majority concurred

Indicates agreement by most, not necessarily all, replacing "consensus" with "concurred".

a unified opinion held sway

Replaces "consensus" with "unified opinion" and "existed" with "held sway", emphasizing the influence of the agreement.

a collective decision stood

Focuses on the result of the agreement – a decision – and its standing, replacing "consensus" with "collective decision" and "existed" with "stood".

FAQs

What does "a consensus existed" mean?

The phrase "a consensus existed" means that there was a general agreement or shared opinion among a group of people at some point in the past. It indicates that most, if not all, individuals involved were of the same mind on a particular issue.

How can I use "a consensus existed" in a sentence?

You can use "a consensus existed" to indicate a past agreement, such as "Prior to the new study, "a consensus existed" among scientists that the earth was flat."

Which is correct, "a consensus existed" or "a consensus exists"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they denote different time frames. "A consensus existed" indicates a past agreement, whereas "a consensus exists" indicates a present agreement. Choose the phrase that reflects the current validity of the agreement.

What are some alternatives to saying "a consensus existed"?

Alternatives include "there was an agreement", "a shared view prevailed", or "everyone was in agreement". The best alternative depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.