achieving a quorum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "achieving a quorum" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of meetings or assemblies to indicate that the minimum number of members required to conduct business is present. Example: "The committee was unable to make any decisions as they were not achieving a quorum during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Their refusal to return earlier in the week prevented Republicans from achieving a quorum, which thwarted a vote on the redistricting plan that could have shifted several Congressional seats to Republican control.

The New York Times

Regarding the extra cost, including those associated with achieving a quorum, on balance, competition created in the board nomination process, they explained, might help create leverage in board negotiations with the fund family adviser over fees.

Harvard University

Part of the reason for the extended session was each chamber's difficulty in achieving a quorum; a Louisville newspaper reported that, for an entire month, the largest attendance in the House of Representatives was 61 of 100 members.

Wikipedia

One explanation for the health benefits of intestinal diversity is the inhibition of quorum sensing microbes from achieving a quorum.

BioEssays

This was instituted in order to increase the possibility of achieving a quorum at a members meeting.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That number is 138, assuming that the assembly achieves a quorum.

The New York Times

Seven-tenths of the assembly must be present to achieve a quorum.

The New York Times

Failure to achieve a quorum would be one way to prevent Parliament from acting.

The New York Times

Another argument was that with a contested election, it would be challenging and thus costly to achieve a quorum.

Harvard University

Several politicians said an obstacle to Parliament's approval would be its failure to achieve a quorum, a chronic failing — especially if lawmakers immediately left for Saudi Arabia on the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

The New York Times

He failed to achieve a quorum in parliament needed to impose a state of emergency or the numbers to ask the US for air strikes and drone attacks against the advancing extremists.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about official meetings, use "achieving a quorum" to clearly indicate that the minimum required number of participants are present to conduct business.

Common error

Avoid using "achieving a quorum" when you actually mean achieving a majority vote. A quorum simply allows the meeting to proceed; a majority is needed for decisions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "achieving a quorum" functions as a gerund phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the act of reaching the minimum number of members needed for a group to conduct official business. Ludwig confirms the proper use of this phrase in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "achieving a quorum" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, as indicated by Ludwig. It is typically used in the context of meetings and assemblies to denote that the required minimum number of members is present. While not extremely common, it's found across diverse sources, including news, academic texts, and wikis. Consider related phrases like "reaching a quorum" or "attaining a quorum" for variety. Ludwig confirms its validity and provides useful examples, reinforcing its value in formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attaining a quorum

Replaces "achieving" with "attaining", a synonym with a slightly more formal tone.

reaching a quorum

Substitutes "achieving" with "reaching", a more common and simpler alternative.

obtaining a quorum

Replaces "achieving" with "obtaining", implying a deliberate effort to secure the quorum.

securing a quorum

Similar to "obtaining a quorum", but emphasizes the act of making the quorum secure and certain.

establishing a quorum

Focuses on the initial action of setting up or confirming the presence of a quorum.

forming a quorum

Highlights the act of the members coming together to create the necessary number for a quorum.

meeting quorum requirements

Shifts the focus to adhering to the specific rules or standards that define a quorum.

satisfying quorum requirements

Similar to "meeting quorum requirements", but emphasizes fulfilling or complying with the necessary conditions.

having a quorum present

Changes the structure to emphasize the physical presence of the required number of members.

ensuring a quorum is present

Emphasizes the act of making certain that the required number of members is in attendance.

FAQs

How to use "achieving a quorum" in a sentence?

You can use "achieving a quorum" to describe the action of reaching the minimum number of members needed for a meeting to be valid. For example, "Their boycott prevented the assembly from "achieving a quorum"."

What can I say instead of "achieving a quorum"?

You can use alternatives like "reaching a quorum", "attaining a quorum", or "securing a quorum" depending on the context.

What does it mean to "achieve a quorum" in a meeting?

To "achieve a quorum" means that enough members of a group are present for the meeting to be officially valid and able to conduct business.

What happens if a meeting fails to achieve a quorum?

If a meeting fails to achieve a quorum, any decisions made during that meeting may be considered invalid. The meeting may be adjourned and rescheduled.