a great consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

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

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

While not a media-savvy commissioner like the N.B.A.'s David Stern, or a smooth talker like his predecessor, Pete Rozelle, Tagliabue has proved to be a great consensus builder.

The New York Times - Sports

In the agreement phase there is a great consensus on the next position.

European Journal of Futures Research

With the influence of the French Revolution, there had been a great consensus for making republican governments.

Wikipedia

"She unveiled one of the tools in her toolkit [on Tuesday], but she's also going to be a great legislator and a great consensus builder," Shahid said.

Huffington Post

There is a great consensus in all publications on cytogenetic prognosis in MDS that complex abnormalities characterize a MDS subgroup with bad prognosis and a median survival time significantly below 1 year, although the threshold at which the number of abnormalities confers bad prognosis is a matter of debate.

Annals of Hematology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

We'll also be looking to see if there is a greater consensus in the polls this week.

The New York Times

Some of Mr. Case's critics have said they do not expect his role to come up at a board meeting until there is a greater consensus.

The New York Times

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility has said that "there appears to be a greater consensus that a vote to leave would result in a period of potentially disruptive uncertainty while the precise details of the UK's new relationship with the EU were negotiated".

The Guardian - Opinion

There are certain cases where there is a greater consensus over what is terrorism, such as the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda, the attack on a school in Beslan, Russia, bombings in Bali, Spain and London (though even here, it is not unanimous).

The New York Times

Using the median, Howard said, "means it will be more difficult for the result to be affected by any one judge; you would have to get a greater consensus".

The New York Times - Sports

"There is a greater consensus that it is no longer ideal to have one campus, but is preferable to have a decentralized operation with two or three central nodes," said M. Myers Mermel, chief executive of TenantWise, a real estate brokerage company in Manhattan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a great consensus" to emphasize a strong level of agreement, especially when you want to highlight the unified opinion of a group.

Common error

Avoid using "a great consensus" if there are significant dissenting opinions; instead, opt for phrases like "general agreement" or "majority view" if the consensus is not absolute.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a great consensus" functions as a noun phrase that emphasizes the strength and breadth of agreement on a particular issue. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates a widely held and strong opinion.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a great consensus" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a strong and widely held agreement. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for use in various contexts, though predominantly found in news, media, and scientific publications. While it is not among the most frequent expressions, it effectively conveys a sense of broad unanimity. When using this phrase, ensure that the level of agreement truly reflects the "great" aspect, avoiding overstatement where dissenting opinions exist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable consensus

Emphasizes the scale of the agreement by using the word "considerable".

a wide consensus

Focuses on how broadly the agreement is shared.

a broad agreement

Replaces "consensus" with "agreement" emphasizing the extent of accord.

a significant agreement

Emphasizes the importance of the agreement reached.

a widespread accord

Substitutes "consensus" with "accord", highlighting harmony and agreement.

a vast agreement

Highlights the extent of agreement by using the adjective "vast".

a large consensus

Uses "large" to indicate the size or scale of the consensus.

a general concurrence

Replaces "consensus" with "concurrence", focusing on shared agreement or opinion.

a strong unanimity

Uses "unanimity" to convey complete agreement, amplifying the intensity.

a substantial accord

Emphasizes the size and significance of the agreement by using the word "substantial".

FAQs

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

You can use "a great consensus" to describe a situation where there is a strong and widespread agreement. For example, "There was "a great consensus" among the board members regarding the new policy."

What are some alternatives to "a great consensus"?

Alternatives include "a broad agreement", "a general concurrence", or "a strong unanimity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a great consensus" in formal writing?

Yes, "a great consensus" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when emphasizing a significant agreement among experts or stakeholders.

How does "a great consensus" differ from "general agreement"?

"A great consensus" implies a stronger and more widespread agreement than "general agreement", suggesting near unanimity.