forge a consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

"forge a consensus" is a grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase whenever you want to describe the act of creating or building a collective agreement or understanding among a group of people. It is often used in discussions about decision-making processes, negotiations, and problem-solving situations. Example: After several hours of discussion, the committee was able to forge a consensus on the new budget plan.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

There were many complications in trying to forge a consensus.

The New York Times

But trying to forge a consensus for action has exposed fault lines at the United Nations.

The New York Times

"It will be an important test of the I.M.F. to forge a consensus".

The New York Times

Mr. Chen's efforts to forge a consensus have been tortured from the start.

The New York Times

He took the lead several years ago in trying to forge a consensus on climate change.

The New York Times

How Yellen will forge a consensus out of this group is baffling.

The Guardian - Money

Representatives of most of the states met last Thursday in Chicago to begin trying to forge a consensus position.

The New York Times

It will be harder to forge a consensus on interest rates, or to pretend that one exists.

The Economist

The former commission president's technocratic qualities and his ability to forge a consensus would come in handy.

The Economist

Seeking to forge a consensus, Mr Piñera in May set up a committee to advise on electricity generation.

The Economist

He hopes to forge a consensus when he briefs NATO ambassadors back in Brussels on Tuesday, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "forge a consensus" when you want to emphasize the effort and skill required to create agreement, especially when dealing with conflicting viewpoints.

Common error

Don't use "forge a consensus" when simply reporting an existing agreement. The phrase implies active creation and negotiation, not just recognition of a pre-existing unified viewpoint.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forge a consensus" functions as a verb phrase, where "forge" acts as a transitive verb, meaning to create or bring into being by shaping or uniting. It describes the action of actively creating an agreement, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "forge a consensus" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that describes the active creation of agreement, particularly in situations involving differing opinions. Ludwig AI confirms this, showing its prevalence in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific contexts. While versatile, it's important to use the phrase when describing the creation of an agreement, rather than simply reporting one. Alternatives like "build a consensus" or "reach an agreement" may be more suitable depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

build a consensus

Emphasizes the gradual construction of agreement.

reach an agreement

Focuses on the final outcome of the process.

develop a common understanding

Highlights the shared comprehension aspect.

establish common ground

Focuses on finding areas of agreement as a starting point.

cultivate agreement

Suggests a more nurturing and gradual approach.

find commonality

Emphasizes discovering shared interests or beliefs.

create a unified position

Highlights the result of merging different viewpoints.

achieve unanimity

Indicates complete agreement among all parties.

hammer out a compromise

Emphasizes the effort and negotiation involved.

broker a deal

Suggests the intervention of a third party to facilitate agreement.

FAQs

What does "forge a consensus" mean?

It means to create or bring about an agreement, especially after a period of discussion or disagreement.

How can I use "forge a consensus" in a sentence?

You might say, "The mediator worked tirelessly to forge a consensus between the warring factions".

What can I say instead of "forge a consensus"?

You can use alternatives like "build a consensus", "reach an agreement", or "develop a common understanding" depending on the context.

Is "forge a consensus" formal or informal?

It's generally considered appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, though it leans slightly towards the formal side due to its sophisticated vocabulary.