formed a consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formed a consensus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a decision that a group of people make after discussing a topic thoroughly and unanimously agreeing on a particular action or idea. For example: After an hour of deliberation, the meeting attendees formed a consensus to select a new company logo.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Democrats have not yet formed a consensus on how to approach health care again.

The Washington Post

First was an assessment of whether American society had formed a consensus against juvenile executions.

The New York Times

Unfortunately society is based overwhelmingly on white, male, middle-class values which have conferred supremacy and formed a consensus.

The Guardian - Opinion

While acknowledging that additional federal spending on infrastructure will help, the roundtable participants formed a consensus that policy and institutional reforms are also sorely needed.

Stanford University

Reporters leaving Cleveland quickly formed a consensus that the Trump convention had been a "hot mess," as some of them wrote.

The New York Times

Individual proposals aside, experts haven't formed a consensus on how to make economically moribund places feel more like economically dynamic ones.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The information is then aggregated to form a consensus.

Cornell University

Christie is a leader who can work with all voices to form a consensus.

University of California, Berkeley

Note that this discussion is for generating ideas, not forming a consensus.

The New York Times

If steps are not taken to form a consensus government, Shahbaz Sharif said, the public anger could spin out of control.

The New York Times

Leading the movie association involves forming a consensus from an indecisive membership whose priorities are not always closely aligned.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "formed a consensus", ensure that the context clearly indicates the group of people involved and the topic on which the consensus was reached. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "formed a consensus" if there were dissenting opinions or unresolved issues. The phrase implies complete agreement, so it's inaccurate to use it when true consensus wasn't achieved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formed a consensus" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a transitive verb ("formed") followed by a noun phrase ("a consensus"). It describes the act of achieving a unanimous agreement within a group. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

36%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "formed a consensus" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term to describe the achievement of unanimous agreement within a group. As indicated by Ludwig, its correctness is validated, and its usage spans across news, science, and academic domains. When using this phrase, it is crucial to ensure genuine agreement exists. Alternatives like "reached an agreement" or "came to a common understanding" might be more appropriate if complete unanimity is lacking. Ludwig's examples showcase the phrase's adaptability and relevance in diverse scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reached an agreement

Focuses on the outcome of the process, which is reaching an agreement, rather than the process of forming it.

came to a common understanding

Emphasizes mutual understanding as the result, shifting the focus from a formal consensus.

achieved unanimity

Highlights the state of being unanimous, emphasizing full agreement.

established accord

Uses a more formal term ("accord") for agreement, slightly elevating the tone.

forged a unanimous decision

Implies a more active and deliberate process in reaching a unanimous decision.

agreed upon a resolution

Focuses on the formal outcome of agreeing on a specific resolution.

settled on a mutual position

Suggests a process of negotiation and compromise to arrive at a shared stance.

united in their view

Highlights the unity of opinion, emphasizing the shared perspective.

aligned on a single viewpoint

Emphasizes the alignment of perspectives onto a singular viewpoint.

concurred with the proposal

Implies agreement with a specific proposal, rather than a broader consensus.

FAQs

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

You can use "formed a consensus" to describe a situation where a group of people reached a unanimous agreement after discussion. For instance, "The committee "formed a consensus" on the budget allocation after a lengthy debate".

What is an alternative to saying "formed a consensus"?

Alternatives include "reached an agreement", "came to a common understanding", or "achieved unanimity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it accurate to use "formed a consensus" if some members disagreed?

No, "formed a consensus" implies unanimous agreement. If there were dissenting opinions, it would be more accurate to say "reached a majority decision" or "found common ground on some issues".

What's the difference between "formed a consensus" and "reached a compromise"?

"Formed a consensus" suggests everyone fully agrees, while "reached a compromise" implies that each party gave up something to find a mutually acceptable solution, even if they don't completely agree.