achieving a consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "achieving a consensus" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to the process of reaching a general agreement or shared belief among a group of people. Example: "After many rounds of discussion and negotiation, we were successful in achieving a consensus among all team members regarding the new project proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Several authors then work independently with data samples, searching for patterns within the data, mapping connections and seeking explanations for patterns before comparing and discussing these collectively until achieving a consensus.

BMC Health Services Research

Whatever the Joint Chiefs recommend, it will have been coordinated with General Petraeus and with Mr. Gates in hopes of achieving a consensus, several Pentagon officials said.

The New York Times

The key to achieving a consensus in New York that keeps the NPT alive and healthy may lie in a compromise over a Middle East WMD-free zone.

The Guardian

"We must establish meritocracy, so that the person leading the I.M.F. is selected for their merits and not for being European," Guido Mantega, Brazil's finance minister, said late Wednesday China, too, publicly weighed in on the debate, suggesting that achieving a consensus on the successor to Mr. Strauss-Kahn may take several months.

The New York Times

Most reported series tend to limit this bias by achieving a consensus between closely performing readers, as we presently did with a first concordance of 0.81.

EJNMMI Research

Table 5 Exploring the 5 main themes 1. Achieving a consensus to initiate end of life transitions  1.1 'I have discussed his management with [oncologist] this morning.

Annals of Intensive Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

First, it actually achieved a consensus, unveiled this week.

The Economist

"We have not yet achieved a consensus on proposals that have been put forward," Lord Robertson admitted.

The Guardian

Virtually every major decision he has made has come with delicate, usually quiet negotiation with Republicans to achieve a consensus.

The New York Times

The United States had to work hard to achieve a consensus among NATO members on resuming talks with Russia.

The New York Times

Spain's El País says the summit achieved a consensus which opened fertile possibilities to face up to the world recession.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about group decisions, use "achieving a consensus" to emphasize the process rather than just the outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "achieving a consensus" when the context already implies agreement. For example, instead of saying "achieving a consensus agreement", simply say "reaching a consensus" or "reaching an agreement" to avoid redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "achieving a consensus" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig explains, it describes the process of reaching a general agreement or shared belief within a group.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

22%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "achieving a consensus" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that describes the process of reaching a general agreement within a group. According to Ludwig, it’s suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in science, news media, and formal business settings. Related phrases include "reaching an agreement" and "building a consensus", which provide alternative ways to express the same concept. While the phrase is generally well-regarded, it's important to avoid redundancy by not overusing it in contexts where agreement is already implied. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and provides numerous examples of its use in real-world contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reaching an agreement

Focuses on the end result of the process, the agreement itself, rather than the act of achieving it.

forging a consensus

Emphasizes the effort and active creation involved in reaching an agreement.

building a consensus

Highlights the gradual and incremental process of forming an agreement.

coming to an agreement

Indicates the act of arriving at a mutual understanding or settlement.

arriving at a consensus

Similar to 'coming to an agreement', emphasizing the arrival point after discussion.

finding common ground

Focuses on identifying shared beliefs or interests as a basis for agreement.

establishing agreement

Highlights the formal creation or recognition of an agreement.

developing a unified position

Focuses on creating a single, shared viewpoint from multiple perspectives.

cultivating accord

Emphasizes the nurturing and development of harmony and agreement.

fostering agreement

Highlights the active promotion and encouragement of agreement.

FAQs

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

You can use "achieving a consensus" to describe the process of reaching a general agreement. For example: "After weeks of negotiations, the team focused on "achieving a consensus" on the budget."

What are some alternatives to "achieving a consensus"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "reaching an agreement", "building a consensus", or "arriving at a consensus". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "achieving a consensus" and "achieving a compromise"?

"Achieving a consensus" implies that everyone fully agrees, while "achieving a compromise" means that everyone has made concessions and may not be fully satisfied, but they accept the outcome.

Is it always necessary to aim for achieving a consensus?

While desirable, "achieving a consensus" isn't always essential. In some situations, a majority vote or decision by an authority might be more practical, especially when time is limited or opinions are deeply divided.