complete consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

"complete consensus" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which everyone involved in a discussion or decision agrees on something. For example, "After much debate, the team reached complete consensus on how to move forward with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

… a complete consensus, there might have been a consensus.

The Guardian

The Little Ice Age is an example of how we so often find complete consensus around every aspect of climate change.

The New Yorker

The optimal bucket order problem consists in obtaining a complete consensus ranking (ties are allowed) from a matrix of preferences (possibly obtained from a database of rankings).

European Journal of Operational Research

Complete consensus sequences were recently determined for two isolates representing the two proposed HMPV genetic subgroups (Biacchesi et al., Virology 315 (1) (2003) 1).

Virology

"These properties are being used in genome research and in computing". Edelman describes how the Human Genome Project is inducing biologists and computer scientists to converge on a common object (DNA) and a common goal (mapping a complete consensus genome).

Columbia University

Leadership teams often try to do a number of things to avoid conflict — for example, juggling multiple priorities, agreeing to vague generalities, requesting endless additional analysis, or waiting for complete consensus to emerge.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

There is still no complete consensus.

Science Magazine

Despite the strong popularity of operationist behaviorism in certain quarters, it never commanded a complete consensus even in American psychology.

SEP

Not surprisingly for a group of highly intelligent people, "we don't have complete consensus" on a number issues, Polka explains.

Science Magazine

This is meant to obviate the need for a complete consensus on the principles that regulate society.

SEP

But complete consensus on political principles is impossible to achieve given the conditions of ordinary political societies.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "complete consensus" to emphasize that all members of a group are in full agreement, leaving no room for dissenting opinions. This highlights unity and shared understanding.

Common error

Avoid declaring "complete consensus" if even minor disagreements exist. Overstating agreement can undermine trust if dissenting voices feel ignored.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complete consensus" functions as a noun phrase used to describe a state of total agreement among a group. It emphasizes the unanimity of opinion, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

25%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complete consensus" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase signifying total agreement among all parties involved. As indicated by Ludwig, it effectively conveys a sense of unity and shared understanding, particularly within scientific, academic, and news-related discussions. While subtle variations in meaning exist, alternatives like ""universal agreement"" and ""total agreement"" can be employed for stylistic diversity. When using the phrase, ensure genuine agreement exists to maintain credibility and avoid overstating the level of accord. This phrase is more common in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

universal agreement

This alternative emphasizes that everyone agrees without any dissent.

total agreement

Similar to "universal agreement", but with a slightly less formal tone.

full accord

Suggests a formal and harmonious agreement.

unanimous consent

Highlights the agreement achieved without any opposition or objections.

general concurrence

Emphasizes broad agreement but might allow for minor differences.

shared understanding

Focuses on the cognitive aspect of agreement; everyone understands and accepts the same information.

unified position

Indicates agreement on a specific stance or viewpoint.

harmonious resolution

Highlights the positive and peaceful nature of the agreement.

joint decision

Implies that the agreement was reached through a collaborative process.

common ground

Focuses on the shared beliefs or values that lead to the agreement.

FAQs

How is "complete consensus" used in a sentence?

The phrase "complete consensus" is used to indicate that everyone is in total agreement. For example: "After a thorough discussion, the committee reached "complete consensus" on the proposed budget."

What are some alternatives to saying "complete consensus"?

Alternatives to "complete consensus" include "universal agreement", "total agreement", or "full accord".

Is it redundant to say "complete consensus"? Is there another word that can be used instead of "complete"?

While "consensus" often implies a high degree of agreement, adding "complete" emphasizes the total absence of dissent. While technically it could be considered slightly redundant, its usage is acceptable and useful to clarify the degree of agreement. Other alternatives are "universal agreement" or "total agreement".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "complete consensus"?

Use "complete consensus" when you want to stress that absolutely everyone involved is in agreement, leaving no room for ambiguity or differing opinions.