gathering opinions

USAGE SUMMARY

"gathering opinions" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to describe the process or action of soliciting opinions from a group of people. For example, "The team leader focused on gathering opinions from the rest of the group to determine what the best course of action should be."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Prelec says his method would work for gathering opinions about art, humor, products, and political candidates.

MIT Technology Review

Even so, the team moved deliberately before making an announcement, gathering opinions from coaches, front-office personnel and current players.

The New York Times

The researcher applied several PRA research tools in gathering opinions from Iban communities regarding authenticity and preservation of their culture for tourism purpose.

Systems Engineering Procedia

The work of gathering opinions and interpretations was begun by Rabbi Akiba in the 1st 2nd century ad and carried on by his disciples, such as Rabbi Meïr.

Encyclopedia Britannica

We are making visits to the towns and villages, talking to people and gathering opinions that we then bring back here to discuss," she said.

The Guardian

They canvassed leading clergymen and lay Catholics about the problems facing the archdiocese now and in the coming years, gathering opinions about who might best fill the job.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Lastly, using a questionnaire that focused solely on gathering opinion leader data may have provided better response rates.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Questionnaire approaches that focus only on gathering opinion leader data may achieve higher response rates, for example, Cosens et al. [ 29] achieved 40% response rate to the opinion leader section in their study.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

These findings should lead implementation experts to ask whether gathering opinion leader information using questionnaires is a suitable approach; especially given the burden placed on respondents by multidimensional questionnaires.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

The BBC has been gathering the opinions of people in the country who have used social media to express their opinions.

BBC

Eleanor Bradford, health correspondent for BBC Scotland, also explains that journalists should view social media as an invaluable tool for gathering information, opinions and news sources from their audience.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Clearly define the purpose of "gathering opinions" to focus your efforts and ensure the collected information is relevant to your goals.

Common error

Be cautious of treating all opinions as equally valid. While everyone's voice matters, some opinions may be based on misinformation or lack of expertise. Critically evaluate the source and reasoning behind each opinion when making decisions.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "gathering opinions" is that of a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in a variety of sentence structures, serving as a subject, object, or part of a prepositional phrase. For example, "The work of gathering opinions was begun by Rabbi Akiba."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

46%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gathering opinions" is a grammatically sound and commonly used gerund phrase across diverse fields, including news, science, and business. Ludwig AI confirms this. It denotes the action of collecting viewpoints for various purposes, such as informing decisions or assessing public sentiment. While generally neutral, the formality can shift based on the setting, with academic and scientific contexts often displaying more structured usage. When "gathering opinions", it's crucial to employ structured methods and evaluate the sources critically. Alternatives such as "collecting viewpoints", "soliciting feedback", and "canvassing views" offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collecting viewpoints

Focuses on collecting different points of view, similar to gathering opinions but emphasizes diversity of perspectives.

soliciting feedback

Highlights the act of requesting feedback, implying a more active and direct approach than simply gathering.

canvassing views

Suggests a more thorough and systematic effort to gather opinions from a wide range of people.

ascertaining attitudes

Focuses on determining the underlying attitudes or sentiments, going beyond surface-level opinions.

gauging sentiment

Implies measuring or assessing the general feeling or opinion of a group.

polling respondents

Suggests a more formal and structured method of gathering opinions through surveys or polls.

interviewing subjects

Highlights in-depth conversations with individuals to gather their detailed opinions.

surveying attitudes

Indicates a formal assessment using questionnaires.

assessing perspectives

Focuses on evaluating different perspectives, implying a more analytical approach.

accumulating thoughts

Emphasizes the process of gradually building up a collection of thoughts or opinions.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "gathering opinions" in a sentence?

Use "gathering opinions" to describe the act of collecting viewpoints, feedback, or sentiments from a group. For example, "The committee is tasked with "gathering opinions" from residents about the proposed zoning changes."

What are some alternatives to "gathering opinions"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "collecting viewpoints", "soliciting feedback", or "canvassing views".

Is "gathering opinions" formal or informal?

"Gathering opinions" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the method used to gather the opinions (e.g. a formal survey versus an informal discussion).

What's the difference between "gathering opinions" and "conducting a survey"?

"Gathering opinions" is a broader term that encompasses various methods of collecting viewpoints, while "conducting a survey" refers specifically to using a structured questionnaire to collect data.