the general consensus was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the general consensus was" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to an opinion that is generally accepted by a group or society, such as, "The general consensus was that the proposed policy was too restrictive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The general consensus was a lot of shrugging.

The Guardian - Tech

But, after the refurbishment, the general consensus was more positive.

The Guardian

The general consensus was that it was unwittingly homoerotic.

The Guardian - Music

I spoke to people and the general consensus was that he would be a positive choice.

The Guardian - Sport

We all looked at one another, and the general consensus was that this wasn't bad news.

The Guardian - Film

The general consensus was that the bullet was retribution from a client's disgruntled ex-spouse.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Someone came pretty close, but the general consensus was that the sentence required a syntactic tree.

The New Yorker

The general consensus was that treading water was the best hope.

The Guardian - Sport

As Cosell explains, "the general consensus was fans would not go for this".

The New York Times

In the days following the match at Selhurst Park, the general consensus was that Cantona could leave Manchester.

The Guardian - Sport

The general consensus was both simple and eerily confident: "It may not be ideal, but sometimes it's just necessary".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the general consensus was" to introduce a widely accepted opinion or conclusion within a specific context. For example, "After reviewing the data, the general consensus was that further investigation was needed."

Common error

Avoid using "the general consensus was" when referring to a personal opinion or the view of a small group. Ensure that the opinion is genuinely widespread and supported by evidence. For instance, don't say, "The general consensus was that the movie was terrible," if only a few people expressed that view.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the general consensus was" serves as a declarative expression introducing a widely held belief or agreement. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form. Examples show its usage in various contexts to present a commonly accepted viewpoint.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the general consensus was" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to introduce a widely accepted opinion or conclusion. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's correct and usable in written English, lending itself well to both formal and neutral registers. Its primary function is to inform, highlighting shared understandings across varied contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Scientific domains. Common errors involve misattributing consensus to smaller groups or personal opinions. Remember to use this phrase when you're accurately representing a broad agreement supported by reliable sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the majority view was

Replaces "general consensus" with "majority view", indicating the opinion held by most people.

the prevailing opinion was

Replaces "consensus" with "prevailing opinion", emphasizing the dominance of a particular viewpoint.

the widespread belief was

Substitutes "consensus" with "widespread belief", highlighting the extensive acceptance of an idea.

it was generally agreed

Changes the noun "consensus" to the verb "agreed" and restructures the sentence.

there was a general agreement

Restructures the sentence to focus on the existence of an agreement rather than a consensus.

it was the common view

Uses "common view" instead of "general consensus" to convey a widely held belief.

the accepted wisdom was

Implies that the consensus has become a standard, unquestioned belief.

the collective judgment was

Emphasizes the group aspect of the agreement by using "collective judgment".

it was the popular notion

Uses "popular notion" to suggest a widely accepted idea, often without deep consideration.

everyone generally thought

Simplifies the phrase to a more conversational tone, emphasizing individual thought converging.

FAQs

How can I use "the general consensus was" in a sentence?

You can use "the general consensus was" to introduce an opinion or conclusion that is widely accepted within a group or society. For example: "After the presentation, "the general consensus was" that the project should proceed."

What are some alternatives to "the general consensus was"?

Alternatives include "it was generally agreed", "the prevailing opinion was", or "the majority view was". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "the general consensus was" in formal writing?

Yes, "the general consensus was" is appropriate for formal writing when you are accurately representing a widespread agreement. However, ensure your sources are reliable and the consensus is verifiable.

What's the difference between "the general consensus was" and "the general opinion was"?

"The general consensus was" implies a more formalized agreement, often based on evidence or discussion. "The general opinion was" is a broader term that simply refers to what most people think, which may not be as well-founded or agreed upon. For example, "the general opinion was" that the weather would be nice this weekend.