good offices

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase “good offices” is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used to refer to diplomatic or other helpful mediation or intercession to bring about an amicable resolution. For example, "The senator offered her good offices to help resolve the trade dispute."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Good Offices In A War-Weary World".

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

You'd express thanks for the answerer's good offices.

The New York Times - Magazine

But they can contribute more than their good offices.

The Economist

"Good Offices" are not easy to grasp and to classify.

Harvard University

The titles of the chapters of the treaties are; "Good Offices", "Good Offices and neutrality", "Good Offices": The Swiss experience, Swiss arbitral activity on the basis of the international treaties, Good Offices of a political nature, the protecting power, the "Geneva Mandate" of the "Protecting Power", new forms of general "Good Offices" and "some final considerations".

Harvard University

The good offices provider might be an outside neutral or a group of stakeholders; in either case, an effective good offices provider represents a strong principle or process.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And her husband wrote 'Sophie's Choice.' And it's through her good offices — " "O.K. Good.

The New Yorker

The text at hand is an excerpt, it covers chapter III "Good Offices", the Swiss Experience.

Harvard University

The text at hand describes the Swiss practice of "good offices" in detail.

Harvard University

The text at hand is an excerpt, it covers Chapter III: Good Offices: The Swiss Experience.

Harvard University

The board intends to use "its good offices to promote meaningful and expeditious negotiations," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "good offices", ensure the context clearly indicates the third-party role in facilitating communication or negotiation between disputing parties. For example, "The UN offered its "good offices" to mediate the conflict."

Common error

Avoid using "good offices" to describe general acts of kindness or favors. This phrase specifically refers to formal or semi-formal interventions aimed at resolving disputes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "good offices" functions as a noun phrase that describes the act of providing mediation or assistance by a third party to facilitate communication and resolution between disputing parties. Ludwig examples confirm its use in contexts involving diplomacy and conflict resolution. It’s often used when a neutral party offers help to resolve differences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

30%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Science

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "good offices" refers to the act of providing mediation or assistance by a neutral third party to facilitate communication and resolution between disputing parties. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media, academic, and encyclopedia contexts. When using "good offices", ensure the context clearly indicates the third-party role in facilitating communication or negotiation. The phrase is best suited for formal and professional settings and should not be used to describe general acts of kindness. Alternatives include "mediation efforts" and "facilitation services".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

diplomatic intercession

Specifically refers to diplomatic involvement.

mediation efforts

Emphasizes the active role of mediating or intervening.

peace brokering

Focuses on negotiating peace between parties.

conflict resolution assistance

Highlights support given to resolve a conflict.

facilitation services

Highlights the act of making a process easier.

negotiation support

Emphasizes aiding the negotiation process.

conciliatory measures

Focuses on actions intended to reconcile.

arbitration services

Focuses on formally arbitrating a dispute.

intervention assistance

Highlights aid given during an intervention.

agency of reconciliation

Highlights serving as an agent to restore friendly relations.

FAQs

How can I use "good offices" in a sentence?

You can use "good offices" to describe the actions of a third party that is mediating between two disputing parties. For example, "The organization offered its "good offices" to help resolve the conflict peacefully."

What's the difference between "good offices" and "mediation"?

"Good offices" typically involve providing a platform for dialogue and facilitating communication, whereas "mediation" often includes a more active role in suggesting solutions and guiding the negotiation process.

What are some alternatives to using "good offices"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "mediation efforts", "facilitation services", or "diplomatic intercession".

In what situations is it appropriate to use the term "good offices"?

It is appropriate to use "good offices" when a neutral third party offers assistance to facilitate dialogue, negotiation, or reconciliation between conflicting parties, particularly in diplomatic or formal settings. It is less appropriate to use "good offices" when the third party actively makes suggestions.