accommodate both sides

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accommodate both sides" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation where you need to consider or make provisions for the interests or needs of two different parties. Example: "In order to reach a fair agreement, we must find a way to accommodate both sides in this negotiation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

As for the B.L.M. itself, it has tried unsuccessfully to accommodate both sides.

The New York Times

The French government tried to accommodate both sides by deciding to take, but limit, its share of the European burden.

The Guardian - Opinion

What is therefore urgently needed is a commitment to procedures that accommodate both sides, and an agreement to avoid ideological court-packing in the judicial selection process.

The New York Times

"The Senate, led by the Republicans, and the Assembly, led by the Democrats, has to find a way to accommodate both sides.

The New York Times

In an effort to accommodate both sides, the commission has ruled that this "feeder" parade, on its way to the main gathering south of the Belfast city center, can pass through the small Catholic nationalist enclave of Ardoyne but, for the first time, cannot return through the area on Friday night.

The New York Times

Instead of unequivocally shutting it down, the Obama administration's instinct has been to try to accommodate both sides of the question, claiming greater complexity than actually exists (declaring that things are more complicated than anyone thought possible makes the bureaucrat/politician sound reflective, but it may be no more than cover for cowardice).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Thus, for audio broadcasting each carrier channel should be 20 kilohertz wide to accommodate both side bands, and each transmission carrier should be 20 kilohertz, separated from those on either side.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The b-side of the vinyl was pressed with a double-groove, so that either "Girl Don't Come" or "Sleep" played depending on where the stylus landed; the songs were shorter on the vinyl than they were on the CD or cassette formats to accommodate both on one side of the disc.

Wikipedia

In practice many people use a mix of deontological and consequentialist ethics for their everyday lives (it's wrong to lie, except in certain circumstances, such as to avoid hurting someone's feelings, say) and the challenge is to find a similar framework for social ethics, that can accommodate both worldviews, allowing the two sides to express their differences in a common language.

Huffington Post

The circuit went between buildings on the main street of Cerda, which is barely wide enough to accommodate side-by-side Fiat 500s.

The New York Times

Its corridors are sized to accommodate, side by side, two Daleks, the half-robot, half-mutant monsters from the planet Skaro who have been stalking the Doctor since Lyndon B. Johnson strode the halls of the White House.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, this phrase is particularly effective for describing diplomatic negotiations or architectural designs where multiple constraints must be met.

Common error

Be mindful of the context. While "accommodate both sides" is excellent for abstract diplomacy, in technical scientific writing (like biochemistry), it often refers to physical space for "side chains". Ensure your modifiers make it clear whether you are talking about people or particles.

Linguistic Context

This phrase functions as a transitive verb phrase where "accommodate" acts as the action and "both sides" serves as the direct object. In many instances provided by Ludwig, it appears within an infinitive phrase (e.g. "to accommodate both sides") to express purpose or intent.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accommodate both sides" is a versatile and highly professional expression confirmed as correct by Ludwig AI. It is primarily utilized in two distinct ways: figuratively in diplomacy and journalism to describe a compromise that respects two differing viewpoints and literally in scientific and technical contexts to describe the physical capacity of a structure to hold two components. High-authority examples from The New York Times and various scientific journals demonstrate that it is a sophisticated choice for writers looking to express balance and inclusivity. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates whether you are referring to human interests or physical entities to avoid any potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

satisfy both parties

Focuses more on the emotional or contractual fulfillment of requirements

meet both sets of needs

Emphasizes the functional requirements being addressed

reconcile both positions

Suggests bringing two conflicting viewpoints into harmony

balance both interests

Highlights the act of giving equal weight to two different goals

incorporate both perspectives

Implies including both viewpoints in a final plan or decision

find a middle ground

Idiomatic expression for reaching a compromise

cater to both factions

Often used in a political context to describe satisfying different groups

address both concerns

Specifically refers to responding to worries or objections

handle both viewpoints

A more neutral way to describe managing two different ideas

bridge the gap

Metaphorical phrase for connecting two disparate sides

FAQs

How to use "accommodate both sides" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a compromise, such as: "The new policy was designed to "accommodate both sides" of the immigration debate."

What can I say instead of "accommodate both sides"?

Depending on the context, you might use "satisfy both parties", "find a compromise" or "balance both interests".

Is it "accommodate both sides" or "accommodate to both sides"?

The verb "accommodate" is transitive in this context, so you should use "accommodate both sides" without the preposition "to".

What is the difference between "accommodate both sides" and "reconcile both sides"?

To "accommodate both sides" means to make room for their needs, whereas to "reconcile both sides" implies resolving the conflict between them so they are no longer in disagreement.