formalizing a commitment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formalizing a commitment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of making a promise or agreement official, often in a professional or legal context. Example: "The team is focused on formalizing a commitment to the project by signing the contract next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

While the idea that formalizing a commitment to a shared partnership may be news to those who haven't experienced the reality of long term matrimony, if you are in that group of veterans who have learned that this isn't necessarily the case you might be raising your eyebrows right about now or shaking your head.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The plan, known as an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), formalizes a commitment made by Obama in November as part of a joint US-China pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Vice

Later in the evening, the young delegates were officially named Climate Ambassadors, formalizing a one-year commitment embodied in their Declaration.

Unicef

Now in its third year, the MBE program formalizes a longstanding commitment at HGSE to the integration of cognitive science, biology, and education in research and practice.

Harvard University

Catalano and Fiore [12] formalized a powerful cryptographic primitive named vector commitment.

Data Science and Engineering

Over the next several years, they discussed marriage a number of times, but while Mr. Schuler knew he wanted to be with Ms. Talbott, he wasn't sure about formalizing their commitment.

The New York Times

Commitment devices are contracts or other arrangements that formalize a person's pledge to achieve an objective.

Harvard Business Review

Just days after Donald Trump's shortsighted decision, I signed an executive order formalizing Chicago's commitment to adopting the guidelines of the Paris agreement and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% by 2025 (compared with 2005 levels).

The Guardian - Opinion

The move, then, is more about formalizing these perks in a commitment to online shoppers.

TechCrunch

"It formalized a hobby," he said.

The New Yorker

Has anyone attempted to formalize a detached Arabic before?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "formalizing a commitment" when the act of making something official strengthens the agreement or understanding. For example, use it in contracts, agreements, or policy changes.

Common error

Don't use "formalizing a commitment" when a simple verbal agreement suffices. Over-formalizing can create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and might be perceived negatively in informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formalizing a commitment" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the process of making a promise or agreement official, usually through documentation or a public declaration. Ludwig AI confirms that is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

23%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "formalizing a commitment" is a grammatically correct gerund phrase, as stated by Ludwig AI, denoting the act of making an agreement official. While not extremely common, its usage is prevalent in news, business, and scientific contexts. When writing, use it to emphasize that a promise or obligation is being made legally binding or publicly acknowledged, but avoid overuse in informal settings. Alternatives like "establishing a commitment" or "solidifying an agreement" offer similar meanings but with slightly different nuances. Be careful of situations where less formality is better to keep the tone of your writing natural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making a commitment official

This is a more direct rephrasing of the original query.

establishing a formal commitment

This focuses on the establishment of a structured commitment.

formalizing an undertaking

Similar to the original, but uses the word 'undertaking'.

officially committing

This alternative focuses on the official aspect of making a commitment.

making a formal pledge

This phrase uses 'pledge' to emphasize the solemnity of the commitment.

solidifying an agreement

This highlights the act of strengthening an existing agreement.

ratifying an obligation

This option emphasizes the official approval of a duty or responsibility.

confirming a dedication

This emphasizes the act of affirming one's devotedness.

legally binding a promise

This alternative highlights the legal aspect of making a promise enforceable.

putting a commitment in writing

This alternative emphasizes the documented nature of formalization.

FAQs

How can I use "formalizing a commitment" in a sentence?

You might say, "The team is focused on formalizing a commitment to the project by signing the contract next week" or "The city is formalizing a commitment to reduce emissions by 2030".

What phrases are similar to "formalizing a commitment"?

Similar phrases include "establishing a commitment", "solidifying an agreement", or "officially committing", depending on the specific context.

In what context is it appropriate to use "formalizing a commitment"?

It is appropriate when making an agreement official, especially in business, legal, or political contexts. This often involves documentation or an official ceremony of some kind.

What is the difference between "formalizing a commitment" and "making a commitment"?

"Making a commitment" is a general phrase, while "formalizing a commitment" implies a specific action is taken to make the commitment official, legally binding, or publicly acknowledged.