a prevailing opinion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a prevailing opinion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a widely accepted or dominant viewpoint on a particular issue or topic. Example: "In recent years, a prevailing opinion among experts is that climate change poses a significant threat to global security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

A prevailing opinion is that replication of the virus must be suppressed as much as possible.

The New York Times - Science

Once again he will be the prohibitive favourite when they tee off for the US PGA title, but then this has been a prevailing opinion for some time.

Independent

"It has been a prevailing opinion, even with many of our greatest men, that the people can govern themselves, and that a democracy is of course a free government," he accurately observed.

The New Yorker

If there is a prevailing opinion, it is that Mr Abe will not have the flair, the authority, or perhaps even the gumption to carry forward the structural improvements to Japan's economy wrought by his unconventional predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi.

The Economist

There's a prevailing opinion that in America that it is very, very difficult to get anyone to read literature in translation, that it doesn't sell here and people don't want it.

The New Yorker

"There's a prevailing opinion that the I.D.A.'s need to be reformed and that the law needs to be changed so they are held more accountable and transparent and operate in a manner more consistent with the original intent, which was to attract industries to the state," Mr. Hoyt said, speaking about industrial development agencies.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Some of this was a reflection of prevailing opinion; much of it was cynical.

The Guardian

In the early 1960s Wilson became the world's leading spokesman for the revived theory of continental drift, at a time when prevailing opinion held that continents were fixed and immovable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But he said that "from the party's point of view it seems to me there is quite a lot of prevailing opinion that we have to be very mindful of the civil liberties concerns while also not being dismissive of some of the benefits Julian has mentioned" - for example finding out who a murder victim or missing child had been speaking to before being killed or disappearing.

The Guardian

When I was a graduate student, the prevailing opinion was that scientists who chose industry as a career were in some way second rate but I have never agreed that this is the case.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

That was definitely the prevailing opinion," a NATO officer in Belgium said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a prevailing opinion", ensure you can support the claim that the opinion is indeed widespread or dominant. Provide evidence or context to justify the assertion.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a prevailing opinion" as absolute truth. Even if an opinion is widespread, acknowledge that dissenting viewpoints may exist. Qualify your statement by specifying the context or group for whom the opinion prevails.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prevailing opinion" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig shows it introduces a viewpoint widely accepted or dominant within a specific context. It indicates a generally held belief.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prevailing opinion" is a noun phrase denoting a widely held belief. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in neutral to formal contexts, such as news reports, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, it's crucial to consider whether the described opinion truly reflects a dominant viewpoint and to avoid presenting it as an absolute truth. Alternatives like "a common view" or "a widespread belief" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a common view

Replaces "prevailing" with "common", suggesting a widely held perspective.

a widespread belief

Emphasizes the broad acceptance of the belief.

a general consensus

Highlights agreement among a group of people.

the conventional wisdom

Refers to beliefs generally accepted as true.

the accepted view

Indicates that the view is widely agreed upon.

a dominant perspective

Suggests a viewpoint that holds a position of power or influence.

the mainstream thought

Implies a belief that's part of the dominant trend.

the popular notion

Highlights that something is a common idea.

the received wisdom

Indicates a belief passed down and generally accepted.

a widely held conviction

Stresses the strength and broad acceptance of the belief.

FAQs

What does "a prevailing opinion" mean?

The phrase "a prevailing opinion" refers to a belief, idea, or viewpoint that is widely accepted or dominant within a particular group, field, or society.

How can I use "a prevailing opinion" in a sentence?

You can use "a prevailing opinion" to introduce a common viewpoint, as in "The prevailing opinion is that climate change is a serious threat."

Are there alternatives to saying "a prevailing opinion"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "a common view", "a widespread belief", or "a general consensus" to express similar meanings.

What's the difference between "a prevailing opinion" and "an opinion"?

"An opinion" is simply someone's personal view. "A prevailing opinion" suggests that the view is held by many people and is therefore more influential or widespread.