prevailing conviction

USAGE SUMMARY

"prevailing conviction" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a widely held belief or opinion. For example: The prevailing conviction was that the new policy would be difficult to implement.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Corruption and squabbling among the country's lacklustre politicians have helped legitimise the army's role.The prevailing conviction among the generals is that they know what is in the best interest of the Turkish people.

The Economist

For a while longer, early misgivings about the evidence base for HRT were just small waves on the placid sea of prevailing conviction.

Huffington Post

During the 1980s, even with Mikhail Gorbachev running the Kremlin, few in Washington questioned the prevailing conviction that the Soviet-American rivalry was and would remain a defining feature of international politics more or less in perpetuity.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The WHO is relevant in the way it expresses prevailing (or more importantly, not yet prevailing) convictions regarding the importance of health, including its legal regulation, and the evolution of a process-based conception of health.

BMC Medical Ethics

They may be on the left of the political spectrum but their prevailing political convictions often merge illiberalism and intolerance for dissent with a particular narrow and dogmatic discourse and ideology of social and economic justice that is exclusionary of those who do not uncritically share all its perspectives and convictions.

Huffington Post

Corruption in India is "so vastly prevailing that the conviction of two people is not going to affect much," says H. D. Shourie, head of Common Cause, a public-interest group.

The Economist

His votes over the last four years too often seemed more about following the prevailing winds than his own convictions, and he failed to pull the board together in a coherent direction.

Los Angeles Times

Thrashing the league leaders back at Anfield is one thing, but prevailing on occasions such as this injects proper conviction into Liverpool's increasingly persuasive title challenge.

The Guardian - Sport

Inquiry chairwoman Ann Coffey MP said the "prevailing public attitude" blamed children, leading to 1,000 convictions from 13,000 cases over six years.

BBC

SINCE Arthur Andersen, a giant accountancy firm, collapsed after being found guilty of obstruction of justice in 2002, the prevailing wisdom has been that no financial firm could survive a criminal conviction.

The Economist

Nevertheless, for many Soviet psychiatrists "sluggish schizophrenia" appeared to be a logical explanation to apply to the behavior of critics of the regime who, in their opposition, seemed willing to jeopardize their happiness, family, and career for a reformist conviction or ideal that was so apparently divergent from the prevailing social and political orthodoxy.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prevailing conviction" when you want to emphasize a belief that is not only widespread but also deeply held and influences actions or decisions.

Common error

Avoid using "prevailing conviction" in very casual or informal conversations; it can sound overly formal or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "common belief" or "general opinion" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevailing conviction" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a widely held belief or opinion, often influencing actions or decisions. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prevailing conviction" is a noun phrase denoting a widely held and deeply influential belief. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, although its register leans towards formal contexts. It is often found in news and media, scientific, and encyclopedic sources. While synonyms like "dominant belief" and "widespread opinion" exist, "prevailing conviction" emphasizes the strength and pervasiveness of the belief. When writing, use it to highlight beliefs that significantly shape actions or decisions, but avoid it in overly casual settings where simpler alternatives are more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dominant belief

Replaces "conviction" with "belief", focusing more on a general acceptance rather than a strong, firm opinion.

widespread opinion

Emphasizes the breadth of the opinion, suggesting it is held by many people.

common sentiment

Highlights the emotional aspect of the belief, suggesting a shared feeling.

accepted wisdom

Implies that the belief is considered to be generally true and wise.

general consensus

Focuses on the agreement among people about the belief.

established view

Suggests that the belief has been held for a long time and is well-recognized.

reigning ideology

Indicates a belief system that is currently dominant and influential.

conventional wisdom

Highlights that the belief is widely accepted, even if it may not be entirely accurate.

popular notion

Emphasizes the popularity of the belief, suggesting it is well-liked or widely known.

current understanding

Focuses on the present state of knowledge or interpretation.

FAQs

What does "prevailing conviction" mean?

The phrase "prevailing conviction" refers to a belief or opinion that is widely held and accepted by a significant number of people, often influencing their actions or thoughts.

How can I use "prevailing conviction" in a sentence?

You can use "prevailing conviction" in a sentence like: "The "dominant belief" was that the company would recover quickly after the crisis".

Are there synonyms for "prevailing conviction"?

Yes, some synonyms for "prevailing conviction" include "widespread opinion", "common sentiment", or "accepted wisdom".

Is it correct to say "prevailing belief" instead of "prevailing conviction"?

Yes, "prevailing belief" is a correct and often interchangeable alternative to "prevailing conviction", although "prevailing conviction" suggests a stronger, more deeply held belief.