by general agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by general agreement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a consensus or common understanding has been reached among a group of people. Example: "By general agreement, the committee decided to postpone the meeting until next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

BY GENERAL agreement, he was the greatest English judge since the second world war: the only man in the modern age to be, in short order, Master of the Rolls, Lord Chief Justice (head of the judiciary in England and Wales) and senior law lord in the House of Lords.

The Economist

Today's summation, by general agreement, will test his skills.

The New York Times

Not because of me, but by general agreement".

The Guardian - Books

And, by general agreement, it lost him a big debate.

The New York Times

www.carolinepidgeon.org By general agreement, this election has been one of the nastiest in memory.

The Guardian - Opinion

The British are, by general agreement, uniquely preoccupied with the weather.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

We find that these factors are iterative since collaboration factors follow a mutually reinforcing cycle: collaboration within a crisis management network is conditioned by a general agreement, which is in turn conditioned by the extent to which the institutions coordinate themselves prior to crisis.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

And beginning in 1999, the Stanford library system sent a team of specialists and students to Europe, where the university is engaged in a multiyear project to digitize selected documents produced by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and its successor organization, the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

The New York Times

The Anglican Communion is united by a common loyalty to the archbishop of Canterbury in England as its senior bishop and titular leader and by a general agreement with the doctrines and practices defined since the 16th century in The Book of Common Prayer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Indeed, India, which produces more highly qualified people than it can employ, is campaigning for migration to be covered by the General Agreement on Trade in Services, part of the current round of international trade talks.How does migration benefit the sending countries?

The Economist

Most of the entire Internet is funded by a general agreement on this principle: Digital advertising delivers equal or greater ROI to businesses than other available marketing strategies.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by general agreement", ensure that there is indeed a consensus or widespread acceptance to avoid making unsupported claims. Support the statement with evidence or examples whenever possible.

Common error

Avoid using "by general agreement" when there is significant disagreement or debate on the topic. This can mislead readers and weaken your argument. Verify the consensus before attributing it.

Linguistic Context

By general agreement functions as an introductory phrase indicating that a statement or assertion is based on a widely held consensus or belief. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use in various authoritative contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by general agreement" is a phrase used to signal widespread consensus or acceptance. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, including news, encyclopedias, and science. It is particularly useful for establishing credibility by indicating that a statement aligns with collective understanding. While versatile, it's important to ensure a true consensus exists to avoid misattribution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by common consent

This alternative highlights mutual agreement or approval among a group.

by unanimous decision

This phrase emphasizes that everyone is in complete agreement.

by mutual understanding

This suggests an understanding reached between parties involved.

by widespread acceptance

This indicates that an idea or practice is generally accepted.

by common accord

This phrase suggests agreement reached voluntarily.

by popular belief

This alternative focuses on what is commonly believed by many people.

universally accepted

This indicates that something is accepted everywhere or by everyone.

generally acknowledged

This alternative highlights that something is recognized widely.

in agreement with

This phrase directly states that parties are in accord.

as a rule

This suggests that something is generally true or happens in most cases.

FAQs

How can I use "by general agreement" in a sentence?

You can use "by general agreement" to introduce a widely accepted fact or opinion. For example, "By general agreement, he was the best artist of the twentieth century."

What phrases are similar to "by general agreement"?

Alternatives include phrases like "by common consent", "by unanimous decision", or "by mutual understanding".

Is it always accurate to use "by general agreement"?

It's important to ensure that there is a genuine consensus before using "by general agreement". If there's significant debate or disagreement, it might not be the most accurate phrase.

What is the difference between "by general agreement" and "by common knowledge"?

"By general agreement" implies a consensus among a specific group or community, whereas "by common knowledge" refers to facts or information widely known and accepted by the general public.