building a consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "building a consensus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of reaching an agreement or shared understanding among a group of people. Example: "The committee spent several meetings building a consensus on the new policy to ensure everyone was on the same page."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You correct it by building a consensus.

The New Yorker

Finally, what can be learned about building a consensus on an approach to the early years?

The Guardian

But building a consensus on exactly how to resurrect the Paper Mill took longer than expected.

The New York Times

But he still needs to govern by building a consensus among his peers.

The New York Times

They are building a consensus on principles before getting bogged down in legislative details.

The New York Times

Building a consensus with our friends before we acted only encouraged quarrelsomeness.

The New Yorker

They put these proposals on the table without building a consensus".

Independent

His actions though are not building a consensus among his colleagues.

The Guardian

But he also talks of building a consensus among secular liberal and conservative Christian voters.

The New York Times

Building a consensus is complicated by a diversity of languages, interests and national politics.

The New York Times - Sports

That is why I am building a consensus among all parties involved in order to create a resolution".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about collaborative efforts, use "building a consensus" to highlight the active process of finding common ground among diverse opinions.

Common error

Avoid implying that "building a consensus" requires everyone to agree completely. It often involves finding a solution that most people can accept, even if not everyone is fully satisfied.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "building a consensus" functions as a noun phrase, often used as a gerund. It describes the action of creating agreement, especially in situations involving multiple parties or differing opinions. Ludwig AI confirms its accurate usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Unknown/unmatched sources

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "building a consensus" accurately describes the process of creating agreement among different parties. Ludwig AI attests to its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. Its usage is particularly frequent in News & Media, Science, and Academic writing, emphasizing its relevance across diverse fields. When employing this phrase, remember that it highlights the active and collaborative nature of finding common ground, rather than requiring complete unanimity. Alternatives such as "reaching a common understanding" or "forging an agreement" can be used to vary your writing while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reaching a common understanding

Focuses on the outcome of shared comprehension rather than the process.

forging an agreement

Replaces "building" with "forging", emphasizing the effort and creation of the agreement.

developing a shared perspective

Highlights the creation of a unified viewpoint.

establishing accord

Uses more formal vocabulary to denote agreement.

cultivating agreement

Emphasizes the gradual and careful development of consensus.

promoting unity

Focuses on the outcome of consensus as a state of being united.

fostering consent

Highlights the act of generating permission or approval.

encouraging harmony

Shifts the focus to creating a balanced and agreeable environment.

working toward unanimity

Emphasizes effort towards achieving complete agreement.

hammering out a compromise

Suggests a more forceful and potentially difficult process of reaching an agreement.

FAQs

What does "building a consensus" mean?

It refers to the process of achieving a general agreement among a group of people, where everyone's views are considered, and a mutually acceptable decision is reached.

How can I effectively use "building a consensus" in a sentence?

Use it when you want to emphasize the collaborative effort to reach an agreement, for example, "The project team focused on "building a consensus" before finalizing the plan."

What are some alternatives to "building a consensus"?

You can use alternatives like "reaching a common understanding", "forging an agreement", or "developing a shared perspective" depending on the specific context.

What is the importance of "building a consensus" in decision-making?

It ensures that diverse perspectives are considered, leading to more informed and widely supported decisions, and reduces the likelihood of future conflicts or disagreements.