aiming for consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "aiming for consensus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing efforts to reach an agreement or common understanding among a group of people. Example: "During the meeting, we focused on aiming for consensus to ensure that everyone's opinions were considered."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Additionally, participants were encouraged through probes to share their perspectives without aiming for consensus.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Italians have glimpsed a style of government that does not aim for consensus, and that acknowledges opinions but not vetoes.

The Economist

We should aim for consensus and harmony in society.

BBC

We aim for consensus on a richly functional IoT stack and availability of network infrastructure that addresses interoperability and quality-of-service challenges of IoT connectivity.

TechCrunch

Consensus as the ideal outcome depends on the ideal political process in which is aimed for consensus under the ideal circumstances being given by the rationality of debate (Habermas 1989).

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

1. Don't aim for consensus.

Huffington Post

It was also proposed that the phrase "life-prolonging treatment" should not be used lightly, and when carrying out such treatments, healthcare professionals should aim for social consensus building when it comes to withholding or discontinuing these treatments.

BMC Medical Ethics

Mr. Ban, who was the head cheerleader for reaching a deal during the 2009 conference in Copenhagen, suggested that a better approach might consist of small steps in separate fields that built toward wider consensus rather than aiming for one sweeping pact.

The New York Times - Science

What I do is aim for consensus.

The New York Times

"What we are aiming for is to see if we can reach a consensus," he said.

The New York Times

To ensure maximum genome coverage, 164 markers were selected for population mapping using published consensus maps [[ 21]] aiming for a marker density every 20 cM where possible.

BMC Plant Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When facilitating group discussions, use "aiming for consensus" to set the expectation that while complete agreement is ideal, respecting diverse perspectives is crucial. This promotes inclusivity and collaborative decision-making.

Common error

Don't let "aiming for consensus" stifle creativity. Prematurely seeking agreement can shut down diverse ideas and prevent innovative solutions. Encourage open exploration of options before focusing on convergence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aiming for consensus" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the act or process of trying to achieve agreement among a group of people. It often serves as a descriptor of an ongoing effort, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "aiming for consensus" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English, signifying the pursuit of agreement within a group. Ludwig indicates that it commonly appears in diverse contexts, spanning from scientific publications to news reports and general web content. While "aiming for consensus" is a valid approach for inclusive decision-making, it is important to ensure it does not stifle innovation. Alternative phrases like "seeking agreement" or "working towards consensus" can be used to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seeking agreement

Focuses on the act of trying to find common ground.

working towards consensus

Describes the ongoing process of building agreement.

targeting agreement

Focuses on the goal of achieving agreement, similar to having a specific objective.

pursuing accord

Highlights the active chase toward a formal agreement.

striving for unanimity

Emphasizes the effort to achieve complete agreement from all parties.

looking for common ground

Stresses the search for shared interests or beliefs as the basis for agreement.

facilitating consensus

Focuses on making the process of reaching agreement easier.

endeavoring to reach agreement

Highlights the earnest attempt to come to a mutual understanding.

fostering agreement

Emphasizes the nurturing of conditions that allow agreement to grow.

promoting consensus-building

Highlights the active role in establishing a consensus.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "aiming for consensus" in a sentence?

Use "aiming for consensus" to describe the intention or process of seeking agreement, such as: "The committee is "aiming for consensus" on the new policy."

What are some alternatives to "aiming for consensus"?

You can use alternatives like "seeking agreement", "working towards consensus", or "pursuing accord" depending on the context.

Is "aiming for consensus" always the best approach?

No, "aiming for consensus" may not be suitable in situations requiring quick decisions or when expertise is concentrated in a few individuals. Sometimes, decisive leadership or expert opinions are more effective.

How does "aiming for consensus" differ from simply 'compromising'?

"Aiming for consensus" focuses on finding a solution that everyone actively supports, while compromising often involves parties making concessions they are not entirely happy with. Consensus seeks mutual agreement, whereas compromise accepts partial satisfaction.