agrees in principle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "agrees in principle" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone accepts the general idea or concept of something, but may not agree with all the specific details or terms. Example: "The committee agrees in principle to the proposed changes, but further discussions are needed to finalize the details."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"Everyone agrees in principle that we need to do this, but the devil is in the details.

The New York Times - Tech

Mrs Merkel, caught off guard, agrees in principle but thinks such a referendum still lies far in the future.

The Economist

But he agrees in principle with Mr. Wheeler's suggestion that Brcko hold elections in October 2004 to coincide with local elections throughout Bosnia.

The New York Times

He looks likely to avoid a custodial sentence if he agrees in principle to pay all the embezzled funds back, which is a good result.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The BBC Trust said that it agrees "in principle" with plans to reduce medium wave transmission for local radio where there is duplicate FM coverage.

The Guardian

Israel agrees in principle to withdraw from every inch of the West Bank and Arab districts of East Jerusalem, as it has from Gaza.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Taylor agreed in principle.

The Guardian

I agreed, in principle.

The New York Times

Experts in quality measurement agree in principle.

The New York Times

Supporters of the bill agree in principle.

The New York Times

Both nations have agreed in principle on a peace document.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "agrees in principle" when you want to convey agreement on the general concept but acknowledge that specific details may still need to be worked out.

Common error

Avoid using "agrees in principle" if there's full and unconditional agreement. This phrase implies that some details or conditions are yet to be finalized.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "agrees in principle" functions as a qualifier, indicating a conditional agreement. It modifies the verb "agrees", suggesting that while there is acceptance of the general idea, specific details or conditions may still need to be resolved. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "agrees in principle" is a useful phrase to convey acceptance of a general idea while acknowledging that details may still need to be worked out. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news media, science, and business. It's important to use this phrase when there is a need to express partial agreement, leaving room for further negotiation or clarification, rather than when full agreement is present. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively use "agrees in principle" in your writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concurs in principle

Replaces "agrees" with a more formal synonym, "concurs", suggesting a considered agreement.

accepts in theory

Emphasizes the theoretical acceptance but implies potential practical challenges.

generally agrees

Indicates agreement with the main idea but leaves room for minor disagreements.

is in broad agreement

Highlights the overall consensus rather than specific points of agreement.

supports the concept

Focuses on supporting the underlying idea rather than explicitly agreeing.

endorses the main idea

Suggests a more active and public form of agreement.

finds merit in the proposal

Implies that the proposal has value, even if full agreement isn't present.

is amenable to the suggestion

Suggests a willingness to consider the suggestion favorably.

inclines towards agreement

Indicates a leaning towards agreement without fully committing.

approves the general idea

Conveys approval of the overarching concept, with details possibly unresolved.

FAQs

How do you use "agrees in principle" in a sentence?

You can use "agrees in principle" to indicate that someone accepts the general idea of something, but may not agree with all of the specific details. For example: "The board "agrees in principle" to the new policy, but needs to discuss the implementation strategy."

What's the difference between "agrees in principle" and "fully agrees"?

"Agrees in principle" suggests acceptance of the main idea but potential disagreement on details, whereas "fully agrees" indicates complete and unconditional acceptance.

What can I say instead of "agrees in principle"?

You can use alternatives like "generally agrees", "accepts in theory", or "supports the concept" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "agreed in principle"?

Yes, "agreed in principle" is the past tense form and is grammatically correct. For example: "The parties "agreed in principle" to the terms of the contract during the initial meeting."