consulted

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'consulted' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb which means to seek and consider someone's opinions or advice. For example, "The CEO consulted with the board of directors before making the final decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As a western democratic society we have the right to be consulted by our elected representatives on social issues.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Met said in a statement: "The Metropolitan police's directorate of professional standards consulted the Crown Prosecution Service about the alleged leaking of information by a police officer from Operation Weeting.

The Guardian

QAA has consulted academics on, and included in the UK Quality Code, the basic features that should be incorporated into courses in terms of design, recruitment, learning and teaching, student participation and engagement, assessment and external examining, course updating, appeals and complaints, collaboration and research degrees.

The Guardian

But some parents have complained they were not consulted about the surveys.

The Guardian

"If there's people in the government making decisions about our children, we need to be consulted; we need to be together".

The Guardian

They have consulted their personal records which confirm that the issue first came to their attention in May 2011 when the story broke," he said.

The Guardian

The attorney general was consulted about Monday's decision.

The Guardian

Unions expected to have been consulted on important policy and also be seen to be so, complete with beer, sandwiches and TV crews waiting outside the front door.

The Guardian

Was he consulted in any of the decision-making this time?

The Guardian - Sport

Historian Justin Pollard has consulted on films including Elizabeth (1998) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), as well as the TV series The Tudors and Vikings.

The Guardian - Film

In the runup to last week's vote it ostentatiously consulted the Council of Europe's Venice commission, whose jurists are supposed to protect and promote the rule of law in Europe – except that the commission's experts never really got to see the whole constitution and subsequently expressed deep doubts about the project.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "consulted", clearly indicate who was consulted and the purpose of the consultation for clarity and context.

Common error

Ensure that the verb "consulted" agrees with the subject in number. For example, avoid saying "The team consulted with the expert, but they was not helpful" and instead say "The team consulted with the expert, but he was not helpful".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "consulted" is that of a verb, specifically the past tense and past participle form of "consult". It indicates the action of seeking advice or information from someone. Ludwig provides many examples of this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "consulted" is a verb in its past tense form, indicating the action of seeking advice or information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. It commonly appears in news media and formal business contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional tone. When using "consulted", it's best to clearly specify who was consulted and the purpose of the consultation. Related phrases include "sought advice from" and "conferred with". Avoid common errors like incorrect subject-verb agreement. Overall, "consulted" is a valuable term for expressing a considered approach to decision-making, grounded in expert opinion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sought advice from

Emphasizes the action of actively seeking guidance or recommendations.

conferred with

Highlights a formal discussion or exchange of opinions with someone.

sought the opinion of

Focuses on obtaining someone's specific viewpoint or judgment.

took counsel from

Implies receiving wise or considered advice from an advisor or expert.

obtained guidance from

Stresses the act of getting direction or support from someone knowledgeable.

sought information from

Highlights seeking facts or data from someone as a source.

had recourse to

Indicates turning to someone as a source of help or information.

talked with

Suggests a general conversation with someone to discuss a matter.

discussed with

Focuses on exchanging information and perspectives with someone on a topic.

got input from

Emphasizes receiving contributions or feedback from someone.

FAQs

How is "consulted" used in a sentence?

"Consulted" indicates seeking advice or information. For example, "The doctor "consulted" a specialist about the patient's condition".

What are some alternatives to using "consulted"?

Alternatives include "sought advice from", "conferred with", or "obtained guidance from", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "consulted" in formal writing?

Yes, "consulted" is suitable for formal writing as it conveys a professional and considered approach to seeking information or advice.

What's the difference between "consulted" and "asked"?

"Consulted" implies a more in-depth and considered process of seeking advice, while "asked" is a more general term for requesting information. For instance, you "consulted" a lawyer for legal advice, but you asked a friend for a movie recommendation.