at agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at agreement" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may cause confusion. Example: "The parties were at agreement on the terms of the contract."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Nor is the goal of an interfaith conversation to arrive at agreement.

The New York Times

Germans are consensus-oriented, and prefer to arrive at agreement through (sometimes lengthy) discussion to avoid later misunderstanding.

The Economist

And aiming at agreement is a good thing, as is searching out effective means of reaching it (indeed, this is one of the noble ideals of Haidt's book).

The New York Times

Were the two sides at agreement on several points, as Don said before Gary Bettman rejected your offer and pulled the league's proposals off the table on Thursday night?

The New York Times

After some last attempts at agreement, in late June his Grand Army about 600,000 men, including contingents extorted from Prussia and from Austria began to cross the Nemen River.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Theresa May hinted at agreement with Labour: "Why did nobody act" on accounts of extremism in Birmingham, she asked.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"We agreed to continue contacts in the next few days aiming at agreements that could advance the settlement.

The Guardian

In West Africa, they brought together countries to deal with issues and arrive at agreements on child trafficking.

Unicef

We should learn from the cold war's incidents-at-sea agreement between the two superpowers.

The New York Times

At times agreement has been close.

The New York Times

At last, agreement!

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "in agreement" or "at an agreement" for standard English. "In agreement" indicates a state of accord, while "at an agreement" refers to the point of reaching consensus.

Common error

Avoid using "at agreement" when you mean to express a state of consensus. Instead, use "in agreement", which is the standard and grammatically correct prepositional phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at agreement" functions as a prepositional phrase, though its usage is often grammatically questionable. As Ludwig AI points out, standard usage typically favors "in agreement" or "at an agreement."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Science

44%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at agreement" appears in a variety of sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is generally not the preferred phrasing. The more accepted alternatives are "in agreement", to describe a state of consensus, and "at an agreement", to refer to the signing or specific location of the agreement itself. Despite its presence in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, writers should exercise caution and opt for the grammatically stronger alternatives to avoid potential ambiguity or misinterpretation. While its frequency is "common", correctness is disputable, and careful word choice is advised.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in agreement

Emphasizes a state of consensus or shared understanding.

in accord

Implies a formal state of agreement or harmony.

in consensus

Highlights the collective agreement of a group.

arrived at a consensus

Focuses on the process of reaching an agreement.

reached an accord

Similar to "in accord" but emphasizes the act of reaching it.

on the same page

An idiomatic expression indicating shared understanding.

of one mind

Indicates complete agreement and unity of thought.

in unison

Highlights agreement in action or expression.

at one with

Emphasizes a feeling of unity and agreement.

came to an understanding

Focuses on the development of mutual comprehension.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "at agreement"?

The phrase "in agreement" is generally preferred and more grammatically sound. You can also use "at an agreement", which refers to arriving or being present at a specific agreement point.

How can I use the phrase "in agreement" in a sentence?

You might say, "The board members were "in agreement" on the proposed budget." This indicates a state of consensus among the board members.

Is "at agreement" ever correct in English?

While some sources use "at agreement", it's generally considered less conventional. "In agreement" is the standard phrase. "At an agreement" is correct when indicating proximity to or the location of a signed "agreement".

What's the difference between saying "in agreement" and "at an agreement"?

"In agreement" describes a state of shared opinion. "At an agreement" specifies location during the signing of an "agreement", for example.