put forward a motion

USAGE SUMMARY

"put forward a motion" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to propose or suggest a course of action or resolution during a formal meeting or discussion. Example: During the board meeting, John put forward a motion to increase the budget for advertising in order to attract more customers to the company's new product.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

The opposition put forward a motion to impeach the president should he refuse to step down.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Several investors put forward a motion proposing Mr. Woodford be included as a board member.

The New York Times

Councillors are to put forward a motion to wipe his name from Scarborough's roll of honour following claims that he abused as many as 300 victims.

Independent

In March, backed by fellow Asian hardliners, it successfully lobbied the UN to put forward a motion to ban ketamine, a widely abused anaesthetic.

The Economist

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "The coalition government pledged to put forward a motion to allow a free vote on the Hunting Act.

The Guardian

In response, Godard and Truffaut put forward a motion to stop the festival in solidarity with the workers and students on strike.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

During his time in the House of Commons, Carswell was a key figure behind the fall of the former Speaker, Michael Martin, putting forward a motion of no confidence in May 2009, which led to Martin's demise.

Independent

And Tory Alan Lamb is putting forward a motion condemning what he calls, "the failure of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust to fulfil its repeated promises to fund a City Centre Kidney Dialysis Unit at the Leeds General Infirmary".

The Guardian

Labor put forward a censure motion as soon as the House of Representatives sat on Wednesday, as pressure mounted on Tony Abbott to dump Johnston from the defence portfolio.

The Guardian

Although his words were Labour's strongest intervention so far on the phone-hacking crisis, the party is still undecided about whether to put forward a substantive motion calling for a public inquiry that could be subject to a vote or amendment.

The Guardian

Now independent councillor Chris Leather has put forward a new motion, calling on the council not to support the project.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger verbs like 'propose' or 'submit' for conciseness and impact, depending on the desired level of formality.

Common error

Avoid using alternative prepositions such as 'in' or 'on' instead of 'forward' with "put". The correct idiomatic expression is "put forward a motion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put forward a motion" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of formally proposing a suggestion or course of action in a deliberative assembly or organization. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "put forward a motion" is a commonly used phrase that means to formally propose something, primarily within structured settings such as parliaments, councils, and formal discussions. The phrase, which Ludwig AI confirms as grammatically correct, is most frequently found in News & Media, Wiki, and Scientific contexts. While alternatives like "propose a motion" or "submit a motion" exist, "put forward a motion" is a well-established and widely understood expression. It's important to use the correct preposition ('forward') and maintain a formal tone in your writing. This phrase offers a reliable way to initiate discussion and action in a formal environment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

propose a motion

This alternative is a more concise and direct way of saying the same thing, using 'propose' instead of 'put forward'.

submit a motion

This alternative suggests a formal submission of the motion for consideration.

table a motion

This alternative means to formally present a motion for discussion or vote.

introduce a motion

This alternative emphasizes the act of bringing the motion to the attention of the group.

present a motion

This alternative focuses on the act of showing or displaying the motion.

offer a motion

This alternative suggests the act of providing the motion for consideration.

lodge a motion

This alternative implies a formal placement of the motion into the official record.

advance a motion

This alternative means to move the motion forward for consideration.

bring forth a motion

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying the same thing, suggesting a deliberate presentation.

formally propose

This alternative is a shortened version capturing the essence of making a formal proposal.

FAQs

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

You can use "put forward a motion" to describe proposing something in a formal setting. For example, "The councillor will "put forward a motion" to reduce taxes at the next meeting".

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

You can use alternatives like "propose a motion", "submit a motion", or "table a motion" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "put forward a motion" and "make a suggestion"?

"Put forward a motion" implies a formal proposal within a structured environment like a meeting or parliament, whereas "make a suggestion" is more general and can occur in any context.

Is it correct to say "put a motion forward" instead of "put forward a motion"?

While understandable, "put forward a motion" is the standard and more grammatically accepted form. "Put a motion forward" may sound awkward to native speakers.