looking for agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking for agreement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a desire to reach a consensus or find common ground in a discussion or negotiation. Example: "During the meeting, we were looking for agreement on the proposed budget changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Mr. Omar said that the president was looking for agreement on safeguards to ensure that the program did not get out of control.

The New York Times

Various subgroups of the supercommittee have been meeting for weeks to try to forge a compromise, aides and members said, looking for agreement on a deal that ranges from $1.2 trillion to as much as $4 trillion.

The Washington Post

I am looking for agreement on valuation.

TechCrunch

Not enough looking for agreement in Washington.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"They want us to look for agreement instead of looking for fights and arguments," he continued.

The New York Times

"We're going to try to look for agreement and understanding with everyone," he said.

The Guardian

Do not look for agreement.

Huffington Post

Be a creative negotiator that looks for agreement, mutual gain, and long-term partnerships, and you will arrive at successes you can build on for many future negotiations to come.

Huffington Post

Thus, it may be less productive to correlate absolute changes in expression than it is to look for agreement in direction.

BMC Genomics

"Mrs May went to the G20 meeting and looked for agreements and found it wasn't easy, and she went to India and that wasn't great either".

The Guardian

"The industry was looking for an agreement that made sense".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the specific context of your sentence and choose synonyms for "agreement" (such as consensus, accord, or settlement) that best reflect the nuance you wish to convey.

Common error

While "looking for agreement" is perfectly acceptable, avoid overuse in formal or academic writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "seeking consensus" or "pursuing accord" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking for agreement" functions primarily as a verb phrase acting as a gerund or participle. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and used in various contexts. It typically serves as part of a larger sentence, indicating an ongoing action or state.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "looking for agreement" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that indicates the act of trying to find consensus or common ground. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is generally acceptable in a wide range of contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional settings. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media, scientific publications, and business communications. When using this phrase, it's helpful to consider synonyms like "seeking consensus" or "pursuing accord" to add nuance and sophistication to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seeking consensus

Focuses on the process of obtaining a general agreement.

pursuing accord

Highlights the active effort to reach a state of agreement.

searching for common ground

Emphasizes the discovery of shared beliefs or interests to build an agreement.

aiming for consensus

Suggests a deliberate intention to achieve an agreement.

desiring concurrence

Indicates a wish for opinions or actions to align.

trying to reach a deal

Emphasizes the attempt to finalize an agreement, often in business contexts.

attempting to find harmony

Highlights the effort to create a state of agreement and balance.

working towards unanimity

Focuses on the endeavor to gain complete agreement from everyone involved.

endeavoring to reconcile differences

Emphasizes the effort to resolve disagreements to reach an agreement.

negotiating a settlement

Highlights the process of discussing terms to achieve an agreement, typically in disputes.

FAQs

How can I use "looking for agreement" in a sentence?

You can use "looking for agreement" to describe the act of trying to find common ground or consensus in a discussion or negotiation. For example: "The diplomats are looking for agreement on the terms of the treaty."

What can I say instead of "looking for agreement"?

You can use alternatives like "seeking consensus", "pursuing accord", or "searching for common ground" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "look for agreement" or "looking for agreement"?

Both "look for agreement" and "looking for agreement" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different uses. "Look for agreement" is an imperative, while "looking for agreement" is a continuous verb phrase.

When is it best to use "looking for agreement" versus "seeking agreement"?

"Looking for agreement" suggests an active and ongoing process of trying to find common ground. "Seeking agreement" can be used similarly, but may imply a more formal or deliberate approach.