pick a consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pick a consensus" is not commonly used in written English, but it is understandable.
You can use it when referring to the act of selecting a general agreement or shared opinion among a group. Example: "After much discussion, we need to pick a consensus on the best approach to take for the project."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Mr Samaras hopes to pick a consensus candidate who could attract enough independent lawmakers to reach the required three-fifths majority.

The Economist

A group of African-American leaders, meanwhile, met over a period of weeks to pick a "consensus candidate" so their voting power would not be split (and diluted) as it had been years ago after the death of Harold Washington, the city's first black mayor.

The New York Times

Whether it's encouraging outright fascism or defending plastic straws, pick a consensus and I'll find you an odd little bloke prepared to disagree with it for £250.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

16 Delay on New Iraqi Premier Shiite political leaders postponed a decision on who will be Iraq's new prime minister, saying they would resort to a vote if efforts to pick a candidate by consensus have not succeeded by then.

The New York Times

Instead of being picked by a consensus of European leaders, the commission president has emerged via a promise from the main pan-European political parties that the candidate from the largest group would run the commission.

The Economist

Consensus remains elusive, except on one point: with current knowledge, we still can't pick a winner (from a relatively evenly matched field) based on lab tests.

The New Yorker

Also pick a, thus,.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Previously, MyPunchbowl members picked a date by building consensus by talking on the invite's bulletin board.

TechCrunch

Pick an arbitrary, thus.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Pick an edge.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

At each position in the reference genome, we use both the abundance and base quality scores to pick the consensus base and assign a base quality, using calculations very similar to those in [ 12].

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pick a consensus", ensure the context clearly implies a deliberate selection from multiple potential agreements or shared opinions. It's more common to talk about reaching or building a consensus, so use this phrase when you want to emphasize the choice involved.

Common error

Avoid using "pick a consensus" when you simply mean to reach an agreement. "Pick a consensus" implies choosing one agreement from several possibilities, not just arriving at a single, unified viewpoint.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pick a consensus" functions as a verb phrase where "pick" is the verb, and "a consensus" is the direct object. It suggests the action of selecting a particular agreement from a set of potential agreements. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is understandable, even if not very common.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pick a consensus" is used to describe the action of selecting one agreement from a set of potential agreements. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is understandable but not widely used. Alternatives such as "reach a consensus" or "arrive at a consensus" are more common. When you use this phrase, make sure the context reflects a choice between multiple existing agreements. Usage appears primarily in news and media sources, with occasional usage in scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reach a consensus

Focuses on the final act of agreement rather than the selection process.

arrive at a consensus

Highlights the process of reaching an agreement or shared opinion.

form a consensus

Emphasizes building or creating an agreement.

develop a consensus

Suggests a gradual process of building agreement.

establish a consensus

Implies setting up a firm agreement.

identify a consensus

Focuses on recognizing an existing agreement.

determine a consensus

Suggests a process of figuring out what the general agreement is.

choose a consensus view

Highlights the act of selecting a specific viewpoint that is widely agreed upon.

adopt a consensus position

Implies formally accepting a position agreed upon by most.

settle on a consensus

Suggests coming to a final agreement after considering other options.

FAQs

What does "pick a consensus" mean?

The phrase "pick a consensus" means to select a general agreement or shared opinion, implying there are multiple options to choose from.

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

You might say, "After much debate, the committee needs to "pick a consensus" on the best course of action."

What are some alternatives to "pick a consensus"?

Alternatives include "reach a consensus", "arrive at a consensus", or "form a consensus", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "reach a consensus" or "pick a consensus"?

"Reach a consensus" is more commonly used to describe the process of coming to an agreement. "Pick a consensus" is suitable when specifically choosing one agreement from several possibilities.