forming a consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forming a consensus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of reaching an agreement or shared understanding among a group of people. Example: "The committee spent several hours forming a consensus on the new policy changes before presenting them to the board."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

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

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

Mr. Tierney's group hopes a higher offer will win over enough of those creditors to prevent them from forming a consensus about taking over the papers.

The New York Times

Yet because there are so many different interests within and among nations, the process of forming a consensus on new rules can be very contentious.

The New York Times

India is rumoured to be supporting the stalwarts.The Maoists say they are open to forming a "consensus government", but they are not ready to drop Prachanda in favour of a candidate whom their opponents would find palatable.

The Economist

In truth he and his conservative National Action Party (PAN), which lacks a congressional majority, have proved bad at forming a consensus with either the PRI or the leftish Party of the Democratic Revolution PRDDemocratic Revolution PRD

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The information is then aggregated to form a consensus.

Cornell University

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

The New York Times

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

University of California, Berkeley

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

The Washington Post

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing collaborative decision-making, use "forming a consensus" to emphasize the active process of discussion and negotiation leading to an agreement.

Common error

Avoid using "forming a consensus" when the situation involves a simple majority vote or unilateral decision, as consensus implies a more comprehensive agreement among all relevant parties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forming a consensus" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a noun to describe the act of reaching a collective agreement. As Ludwig suggests, it illustrates the process involved in achieving agreement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

43%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "forming a consensus" describes the act of reaching a collective agreement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While the phrase is not exceedingly common, it finds frequent use in news, scientific, and academic contexts. It implies a collaborative process of discussion and negotiation. Alternative phrases such as "reaching an agreement" or "building agreement" can be used to express similar ideas with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forging a consensus

Suggests a more active and deliberate process of creating agreement.

building agreement

Emphasizes the gradual construction of consensus.

reaching an agreement

Focuses on the outcome of the process, rather than the process itself.

coming to a mutual decision

Highlights the decisional aspect of consensus.

developing a common understanding

Highlights the cognitive aspect of reaching consensus.

establishing common ground

Focuses on finding shared beliefs or interests as a basis for agreement.

achieving unanimity

Implies complete agreement, a stronger condition than consensus.

finding commonality

Focuses on discovering shared aspects to build a consensus.

unifying opinions

Emphasizes bringing different viewpoints into a single, shared view.

cultivating accord

Suggests nurturing and promoting a state of agreement.

FAQs

How to use "forming a consensus" in a sentence?

You can use "forming a consensus" to describe the process of reaching a collective agreement, as in "The team spent hours "forming a consensus" on the project's direction".

What are some alternatives to "forming a consensus"?

Alternatives include "reaching an agreement", "building agreement", or "achieving unanimity", depending on the desired nuance.

Is it always necessary to aim for "forming a consensus" in a group?

While desirable, "forming a consensus" is not always practical. In some situations, a majority vote or leadership decision may be more efficient.

What's the difference between "forming a consensus" and "compromising"?

Forming a consensus aims for a solution that everyone actively supports, whereas compromising involves each party making concessions, which may result in a less satisfactory outcome for some.