striving for consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

"striving for consensus" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you are referring to the pursuit or attempt to reach agreement with others. For example: "The team is striving for consensus on how to move forward with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Striving for consensus is laudable, those in the financial markets say, when the economy is robust and what the Fed does is not quite as critical.

The New York Times

Left in the middle, with increasingly little margin for error, is Barack Obama, a man who has built a career out of striving for consensus.

The Guardian - Opinion

Arguing the esoteric and contentious defines you as a star player, while striving for consensus tends to mark you out as thoroughly second division.

The Guardian

As Democrats enter a turbulent and high-stakes political season, President Obama is striving for consensus on a path forward that can deliver substantial greenhouse gas emissions reductions and satisfy concerns in the Senate about energy security.

The New York Times

Decision-making follows a collegial structure, which allows professionals to participate widely in important decisions, striving for consensus where possible.

Business Research

This is no surprise; we all know that individuals striving for consensus find it easier to reach an agreement than individuals who have no preference for consensus.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He listened to subordinates, strived for consensus and sometimes appeared indecisive.

The New York Times

Klaus Toepfer, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, urged negotiators to strive for consensus, no matter how difficult the negotiations become.

The New York Times

Business-as-usual decision-making is busted: we strive for consensus; we don't make tough calls; we aren't transparent about how choices are made.

Harvard Business Review

The President has given the Commission six months to produce a report and urged them to strive for consensus so that the US might speak with a unified voice.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That's why we strive for consensus in our decisions when we can.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "striving for consensus", ensure the context clearly indicates the group or entity involved and the specific issue or decision requiring agreement.

Common error

Avoid using "striving for consensus" as a justification for stifling dissenting opinions or innovative ideas. Genuine consensus should be reached through open discussion, not forced conformity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "striving for consensus" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun, typically describing an ongoing effort or attempt to reach a mutual agreement. This is consistent with Ludwig's examples, which showcase the phrase in contexts where groups or individuals are actively working towards agreement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "striving for consensus" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the active pursuit of agreement, as confirmed by Ludwig. While relatively uncommon, the phrase appears most frequently in news, media and scientific contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig's AI response, the phrase is perfectly correct and usable in written English. When using this phrase, remember to balance the value of agreement with the potential for stifling innovation and delaying necessary decisions. Ensure a clear context is established for who is seeking consensus and on what issue. Remember, it can be replaced by alternatives like "seeking agreement" or "trying to build consensus".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trying to build consensus

Highlights the active construction or development of agreement.

endeavoring to find common ground

Focuses on the attempt to discover shared beliefs or interests.

seeking agreement

Focuses on the act of looking for a mutual understanding or accord.

facilitating consensus

Highlights the act of making the process of reaching agreement easier.

pursuing accord

Emphasizes the active chase or pursuit of harmony and agreement.

aiming for a unified position

Stresses the goal of achieving a single, cohesive stance.

fostering agreement

Stresses the nurturing and promotion of accord within a group.

working towards unanimity

Highlights the effort involved in reaching a state of complete agreement.

attempting to reconcile differences

Emphasizes the effort to resolve conflicting viewpoints.

promoting harmony

Focuses on the encouragement and advancement of peaceful agreement.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "striving for consensus" in a sentence?

Use "striving for consensus" to describe an ongoing effort to achieve agreement. For example, "The committee is "striving for consensus" on the new policy."

What are some alternative phrases for "striving for consensus"?

Alternatives include "seeking agreement", "pursuing accord", or "trying to build consensus" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "striving for consensus" always the best approach in decision-making?

While consensus is often desirable, it's not always the most efficient or effective method. In some situations, decisive leadership or expert opinion may be more appropriate.

What are the potential drawbacks of overly "striving for consensus"?

Overly "striving for consensus" can lead to watered-down compromises, delayed decisions, and the suppression of innovative ideas. It's important to balance the desire for agreement with the need for efficiency and originality.