by general consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

"by general consensus" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is generally agreed upon or accepted by most people. Example: By general consensus, the new restaurant in town is considered the best place to get authentic Italian food.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

By general consensus, Saturdays are still up for grabs.

The New York Times - Arts

By general consensus, though, Meiselas's work stole the show.

The Guardian - Arts

That, by general consensus, was the best single match of 2010.

The Guardian - Sport

Fitzgerald was, by general consensus, among the handful of great novelists in English after 1980.

The Guardian - Books

By general consensus, the business has never been the same since.

The Guardian - Business

Another Riis admirer was Fiorello LaGuardia, by general consensus the greatest mayor the city ever had.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The reluctance of the simulation trainer to allow the simulated patient to die during simulation-based training is not supported by scientific data, but rather by a general consensus and expert opinion [11].

Annals of Intensive Care

The fact that TLC's resident hellraiser Left Eye tragically died in a car accident less than two years later, aged 30, makes the record's prominent position in her discography even more incongruous     By the general consensus of 2004 Jay Z was cool and Linkin Park definitely wasn't, which made their collaboration all the more baffling.

Independent

This scenario has been studied and interpreted over the years, aided by the technology available at the moment, not always correctly and also biased sometimes by the general consensus (e.g., Hallbauer 1975; Gray and Boucot 1994; Windley 2007).

Ecological Processes

Possibly afforded breathing space by a general consensus condemning bass music to a tacky Americanised grave, the label was able to arrive already diversified, releasing garage inflected house on one record, to techno-led bass on another.

Vice

Putting the form-content debate in the light of context, McEvilley enabled us to see that the different ways that form and content recombine do not imply that they must reconcile with some guiding and universal standard of harmony, but rather in coming to terms with the contingent values and functions established for form and content by the general consensus of authorities that prevail.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by general consensus" when you want to indicate that an idea, opinion, or fact is widely accepted and agreed upon by a majority of people. It lends authority and credibility to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "by general consensus" when presenting a personal opinion or subjective viewpoint. This phrase is most effective when referring to verifiable facts or widely held beliefs, not individual preferences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by general consensus" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that a statement or opinion is based on widespread agreement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a correct and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "by general consensus" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase indicating widespread agreement or acceptance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it lends authority and credibility to statements across various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Science. While versatile, it should be used judiciously, avoiding overuse in subjective contexts. Alternatives like "generally agreed upon" or "widely accepted" can provide variety. The phrase functions to assert that an opinion or fact is supported by a broad agreement rather than individual sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Generally agreed upon

Highlights the agreement among a majority of people.

By common consent

Stresses agreement through mutual permission or approval.

The consensus view

Highlights the collective opinion reached by a group.

The general opinion

Refers to what most people believe or think.

Universally acknowledged

Emphasizes complete agreement without exception.

Widely accepted

Focuses on the broad acceptance of an idea or fact.

In broad agreement

Indicates a substantial level of consensus.

The common understanding

Emphasizes a shared comprehension or interpretation.

The prevailing view

Focuses on the most common or dominant opinion.

Almost everyone agrees

Directly states near-universal agreement.

FAQs

What does "by general consensus" mean?

The phrase "by general consensus" indicates that an idea, opinion, or fact is widely accepted and agreed upon by a majority of people.

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

You can use "by general consensus" to introduce a statement that is widely accepted. For example, "By general consensus, the new policy has improved efficiency."

What are some alternatives to "by general consensus"?

Alternatives to "by general consensus" include "generally agreed upon", "widely accepted", or "universally acknowledged", depending on the specific context.

Is "by general consensus" formal or informal?

"By general consensus" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, as shown by its use across various news, academic, and general sources.