a firm consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a firm consensus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a strong agreement or collective opinion among a group of people. Example: "After much discussion, the committee reached a firm consensus on the proposed changes to the policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

But the United States has failed to get a firm consensus from its European allies.

The New York Times

As 2009 began, there was a firm consensus that it would be a bleak year for stocks, and it wasn't.

The New York Times

This will enable our members to plan and invest for their future; we now have a firm consensus that digital is the route forward for radio's future.

The Guardian - Tech

"There is now a firm consensus view at the highest level that Russia must make its own economic and security decisions," says a Swedish-born investor, Peter Castenfeld, who has worked closely with successive Russian governments, including Putin's.

The New York Times - Magazine

Whether all the changes that followed were for the better continues to be debated over post-match pints up and down the country, but there remains a firm consensus that the final report of Lord Justice Taylor, published in response to the Hillsborough disaster in January 1990, belatedly dragged the sport into the modern age.

The Guardian - Sport

But Mr. Nader's organization Public Citizen not only tried to block Pfizer's introduction of Feldene in the 1980's; it also tried to get it banned in 1995, despite what was by then a firm consensus among medical experts that the drug's benefits outweighed its risks.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

But after talking to a range of people who know the three party leaders, I found a pretty firm consensus that the political culture of Britain, at its highest levels, is being changed by this daily exposure to very small people.

The Economist

Despite these issues, there is a pretty firm consensus among the two parties that the outgoing government went too far in storing data on individuals.

The Guardian

There is a somewhat firm consensus that the greatest was scored by Diego Maradona in the quarterfinal round of the 1986 World Cup.

The New York Times

After 18 months of negotiations, there is still no firm consensus on an acceptable monitoring blueprint.

The New York Times

Analysts, on average, had expected a decline of 18.7percentt, according to tracking firm Consensus Metrix.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a firm consensus" when you want to emphasize that an agreement is not just general, but also well-established and unlikely to change.

Common error

Avoid using "a firm consensus" if there are known dissenting opinions or ongoing debates within the group. Ensure the agreement is truly solid before using this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a firm consensus" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the state of agreement within a group, highlighting the strength and solidity of that agreement, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a firm consensus" is a noun phrase denoting a strong and established agreement within a group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for conveying a sense of solidity. While its frequency is classified as uncommon, it appears most often in news, media, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the agreement is truly well-established to avoid misrepresenting the situation. Alternatives like ""a solid agreement"" or ""a strong concurrence"" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a solid agreement

Replaces 'consensus' with 'agreement', emphasizing the strength of accord.

a strong concurrence

Uses a more formal term, 'concurrence', for 'consensus', implying a formal agreement.

a definitive agreement

Replaces 'firm' with 'definitive', suggesting a clear and unambiguous agreement.

a settled understanding

Focuses on the 'understanding' aspect of consensus, indicating a mutual comprehension.

a unanimous view

Emphasizes that everyone shares the same view, suggesting complete agreement.

general agreement

Highlights broad agreement without specifying the intensity of the consensus.

widespread acceptance

Focuses on the 'acceptance' of an idea or proposal by a large group.

collective decision

Indicates that a decision has been made by the group as a whole.

shared belief

Highlights the common belief held by the group, showcasing common conviction.

common understanding

Focuses on the shared comprehension of a topic or issue.

FAQs

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

You can use "a firm consensus" to describe a situation where a group has reached a strong agreement. For example: "After the vote, there was a firm consensus among the members."

What is a good alternative to "a firm consensus"?

Alternatives include "a solid agreement", "a strong concurrence", or "a definitive agreement", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "a very firm consensus"?

While not strictly incorrect, using "very" before "firm consensus" can be redundant, as "firm" already implies a strong level of agreement. It's generally better to rely on "a firm consensus" for emphasis or choose a different phrasing altogether.

What's the difference between "a general consensus" and "a firm consensus"?

"A general consensus" indicates a broad agreement, while "a firm consensus" implies a stronger, more solidified agreement with less room for dissenting opinions.