sought consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sought consensus" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it to mean that someone was trying to reach an agreement or compromise with another person or group. For example: "The mayor sought consensus from local businesses and residents before making a decision about the new zoning regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Tells how he sought consensus both at home and abroad.

The New Yorker

She avoided giving offence, sought consensus, inched reform forward when she could and back when she thought she had to.

The Economist

Last year it ran commercials in which models sought consensus on what was more important by wrestling out of their clothes.

The New York Times

Roosevelt sought consensus among his fellow Democrats, which is why he sometimes kowtowed to the Southern oligarchs who were the chairmen of Congressional committees.

The New York Times

Chronically, within the White House and on Capitol Hill, he sought consensus as a starting point the tranquillity of resolution without the catharsis of conflict.

The New Yorker

Mr. Layton's approach to politics, which avoided attacks on opponents, sought consensus on issues and promoted moderately left-wing causes, provided a sharp contrast to Mr. Harper's politics.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

This study sought consensus-based indices for quality assessment of the public health service (QAPHS) to evaluate the service quality of public health in Shenzhen and other cities in China.

Public Health

We seek consensus.

The New York Times - Magazine

Seeking consensus would undercut real reform.

The New Yorker

He seeks consensus rather than a fleeting political majority.

The Guardian - Opinion

Steinbrenner makes the final call but seeks consensus first.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about negotiations or collaborative decision-making, use "sought consensus" to clearly indicate an active effort to find common ground among different parties.

Common error

Avoid using "sought consensus" when the situation involved a unilateral decision or a forced agreement. "Sought" implies a genuine attempt to consider all perspectives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sought consensus" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of attempting to achieve agreement among a group of people or entities. This phrase is commonly used to describe efforts to find common ground in negotiations, discussions, or decision-making processes. Ludwig examples confirm its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sought consensus" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes the act of attempting to reach an agreement or common understanding. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. While semantically similar alternatives like "aimed to achieve agreement" exist, "sought consensus" maintains its unique emphasis on the process of seeking agreement. Use this phrase to indicate a deliberate effort to find common ground through discussion and compromise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aimed to achieve agreement

This alternative shifts the focus to the intention behind the action, emphasizing the goal of reaching an agreement.

worked toward a compromise

This alternative emphasizes the process of finding a middle ground through negotiation.

strived for unanimity

This alternative highlights the pursuit of complete agreement from all parties involved.

endeavored to find common ground

This alternative stresses the effort to discover shared beliefs or interests for agreement.

pursued a unified decision

This alternative focuses on the objective of reaching a single, collective decision.

tried to reach an accord

This alternative uses the term "accord" to suggest a formal agreement or settlement.

facilitated agreement

This alternative places emphasis on making the agreement process easier.

mediated to find agreement

This emphasizes a third party intervention to foster an agreement.

sought common understanding

This alternative highlights the pursuit of mutual comprehension as a basis for agreement.

fostered a collective resolution

This alternative emphasizes the collaborative nature of reaching a resolution.

FAQs

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

You can use "sought consensus" to describe an effort to find agreement among a group. For example: "The committee "sought consensus" on the budget proposal".

What are some alternatives to "sought consensus"?

Alternatives include "aimed to achieve agreement", "worked toward a compromise", or "endeavored to find common ground" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "sought consensus" and "reached consensus"?

"Sought consensus" describes the attempt to find agreement, while "reached consensus" indicates that an agreement was successfully achieved.

Is it correct to say "seek consensus" instead of "sought consensus"?

Yes, but the tense changes the meaning. "Seek consensus" is present tense, meaning the action is ongoing, while "sought consensus" is past tense, indicating the action happened in the past.