cannot reach a consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot reach a consensus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where a group of people is unable to agree on a particular issue or decision. Example: "After hours of debate, the committee still cannot reach a consensus on the proposed budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Travis gave a home to Red and Green, and while Red's name honours the informal name for the Cornell sports teams, Travis says Green has yet to be renamed because his children cannot reach a consensus.

The Guardian

Commercial real estate experts cannot reach a consensus.

Forbes

But if they cannot reach a consensus, she has pledged to allow MPs to vote on a number of options, including the withdrawal agreement she has negotiated with the EU, which has already been rejected three times by MPs.

BBC

We cannot reach a consensus as to which type of mesh should be used for surgical treatment because the relationship between mesh material and mesh erosion has not been previously reported.

Surgical Case Reports

Although China implements the socialist system, the Chinese government refuses universal values, constitutionalism and civil society, so that China cannot reach a consensus with Japan, Korea and other East Asian countries though considerable consensus has been reached in liberal economy, free trade and other specific aspects.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

The delay strongly suggests that the Intelligence Community cannot reach a consensus on whether and how to revise the previous NIE on Iranian nuclear matters, released in December 2007-which famously concluded that Iran had stopped working on purely weapons-related aspects of its nuclear program in 2003.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The fact that contemporary humans still cannot reach a sturdy consensus on the perils of material greed within limited material commons (Meadows et al. 1972, 2004) appears somewhat paradoxical, to say the least, and again it points to the veil of ignorance over the other contrasted kind of immaterial greed responsible for humans' huge informational commons (language, knowledge, and culture).

Human Nature

Oil traders cannot seem to reach a consensus on how the world economy and its appetite for oil will shape up, but prices have been rising since crude hit a low of $59.52 a barrel on July 14.

The New York Times

If the readers' estimates of horizontal cup/disk ratio differ by more than 0.2 disk diameters (DD), they attempt to reach a consensus; if they cannot, the horizontal cup/disk ratio is adjudicated by a glaucoma specialist.

Duke University

"Can we reach a consensus?

The New Yorker

We try to reach a consensus".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot reach a consensus", ensure the context clearly identifies the group or parties involved and the specific issue they are unable to agree upon. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While "cannot reach a consensus" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in very informal settings. Simpler alternatives like "disagree" or "couldn't agree" might be more appropriate for casual conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot reach a consensus" functions as a predicate within a sentence, indicating the inability of a subject (individuals, groups, etc.) to arrive at a unified agreement or opinion. Ludwig examples showcase its usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

48%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot reach a consensus" effectively communicates the absence of agreement within a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts including news, science, and business. While alternatives like "fail to agree" or "unable to agree" exist, the original phrase maintains a versatile and relatively neutral tone. When using this phrase, clarity regarding the involved parties and the subject of disagreement is essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fail to agree

This alternative is more direct and less formal than the original phrase.

unable to agree

Similar to "fail to agree", this option emphasizes an inability to find common ground.

lack agreement

A straightforward way to express the absence of consensus.

disagree

A simpler and more concise way to express a lack of consensus.

be in disagreement

A more verbose but equally valid way of stating a lack of consensus.

dissent

This term suggests a more formal or pronounced disagreement.

differ in opinion

This option emphasizes the difference in viewpoints.

be at odds

This phrase indicates conflicting opinions or interests.

find no common ground

This suggests a failure to discover shared beliefs or interests.

not see eye to eye

An idiomatic expression for disagreeing.

FAQs

What does "cannot reach a consensus" mean?

The phrase "cannot reach a consensus" means that a group of people is unable to come to an agreement or shared opinion on a particular issue.

What can I say instead of "cannot reach a consensus"?

You can use alternatives such as "fail to agree", "unable to agree", or simply "disagree" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "cannot reach a consensus"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is widely used in various contexts.

How formal is the phrase "cannot reach a consensus"?

The phrase is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although simpler alternatives might be preferred in very casual settings.