put forth a motion

USAGE SUMMARY

'put forth a motion' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to formally suggest an idea, course of action, or proposal for consideration or debate. For example, "At the board meeting, the director put forth a motion to double the marketing budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

On one recent night, the Intelligence Squared U.S. debate series put forth a motion on Columbia University's campus: "More Clicks, Fewer Bricks: The Lecture Hall Is Obsolete".

The New Yorker

By Michael Guerriero April 22, 2014 On one recent night, the Intelligence Squared U.S. debate series put forth a motion on Columbia University's campus: "More Clicks, Fewer Bricks: The Lecture Hall Is Obsolete".

The New Yorker

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors put forth a motion to offer a $5,000 reward for anyone who could identify the person who buried the baby.

Los Angeles Times

Democrats also put forth a motion on Thursday known as the "Previous Question," which would have enabled them to put the Paycheck Fairness Act up for a vote, but Republicans killed the effort by a vote of 226 to 192.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

That precinct chairwoman, Dorrie O'Brien, and a small group of her supporters later put forth a formal motion to remove Shafi as vice chairman because of his religion, which went up for a vote Thursday.

The Washington Post

We put forth a tremendous effort.

The New York Times - Sports

They put forth a series of absurd motives.

The New York Times

The designers have put forth a range of possible visuals.

The New York Times - Magazine

Last week the president put forth a new set of proposals.

The New York Times

The Soviets put forth a different story – romantic disappointment.

Stanford University

Shields put forth a city ordinance banning fracking, which passed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "put forth a motion" in formal settings like meetings, legislative sessions, or organizational proceedings to introduce a proposal for consideration.

Common error

Avoid using "put forth a motion" in informal conversations or casual writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "suggest" or "propose" in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put forth a motion" functions as a verb phrase indicating the formal presentation of a proposal or suggestion. As confirmed by Ludwig, this is correct and usable in written English. Examples found in Ludwig demonstrate usage in news, media and business contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "put forth a motion" is a formal expression used to introduce a proposal for consideration in structured settings such as meetings or legislative sessions. As Ludwig confirms, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for professional and formal contexts. While relatively rare in overall usage, it conveys a specific meaning of formally suggesting an idea for discussion and decision-making. When a less formal tone is desired, alternatives such as "introduce a proposal" or "propose an action" can be considered. Key sources like The New Yorker and The New York Times demonstrate its usage in news and media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

introduce a proposal

Focuses on the act of formally introducing a proposal for consideration. It has a more formal tone.

submit a resolution

Specifically refers to submitting a formal resolution, often in a legislative or organizational context.

table a suggestion

Highlights the act of formally presenting a suggestion, often for discussion or approval.

propose an action

Emphasizes the act of proposing a specific course of action.

present a recommendation

Focuses on presenting a recommendation, which is a type of formal suggestion.

advance an idea

Emphasizes the forward movement of an idea for deliberation.

lodge a request

Highlights the action of formally lodging or submitting a request.

float an initiative

Suggests introducing an initiative for consideration in a less formal setting.

offer a suggestion

Offers a general suggestion, which may be less formal than a motion.

raise a point

Focuses on bringing up a point for discussion, which may not necessarily be a formal motion.

FAQs

What does "put forth a motion" mean?

It means to formally suggest a proposal or idea for consideration, typically in a meeting or formal setting.

What can I say instead of "put forth a motion"?

You can use alternatives like "introduce a proposal", "submit a resolution", or "propose an action" depending on the context.

Is "put forth a motion" formal or informal?

It is a formal expression used in meetings, legal settings, and other structured environments.

How to use "put forth a motion" in a sentence?

Example: "The committee member "introduced a motion" to approve the budget."