winning consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "winning consensus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to achieving agreement or support from a group, particularly in contexts like decision-making or negotiations. Example: "The team worked tirelessly to build a winning consensus on the new project direction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Though known for winning consensus, people who have worked with Mr. Paterson warn that is foolish to underestimate him.

The New York Times

Building coalitions and winning consensus is one of our main tasks as members of our respective parliaments.

The Guardian - Opinion

To younger writers, today's discussions of usage often may seem to be less about winning consensus than about winning, or scoring, points.

The New York Times

Though Mr. Paterson is known for winning consensus, people who have worked with him warn that it is foolish to underestimate him.

The New York Times

That has resulted in far more electricity being shipped much greater distances and in difficulty winning consensus to build new lines.

The New York Times - Science

Mr. Bush's somewhat chastened tone appeared to reflect a new White House strategy of admitting some errors to improve the chances of winning consensus on what he calls a new national "plan for victory". The atmospherics of Mr. Bush's speech were also markedly different from his recent addresses on Iraq, which have been given in front of enthusiastic audiences, often on military bases.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

A leader that's negative is not going to be successful in a government that's got to win consensus".

The New York Times

The third category was the "doers" - the kind of people, said Mr Blair, who won consensus for change and reform.

Independent

Tusk, who is chairing the summit, has failed to win consensus among EU leaders for treaty change in two key areas.

The Guardian

For whatever reason, they didn't win consensus (in one sense goals agreed by all the countries of the world will represent the lowest common denominator).

The Guardian

But Corbyn is likely to appeal to the PLP if, as expected, he fails to win consensus behind his position at a meeting of the shadow cabinet.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for broad acceptance, ensure your proposal clearly addresses the concerns of all stakeholders involved before trying to achieve "winning consensus".

Common error

Don't assume that initial agreement equates to a "winning consensus". Continuously engage with stakeholders to confirm sustained support and address emerging concerns.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "winning consensus" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It typically describes the act of successfully obtaining agreement or support from a group. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "winning consensus" is a grammatically sound gerund phrase denoting the action of successfully achieving agreement or support, as validated by Ludwig. While not exceedingly common, it finds suitable application across various contexts including news, business, and science, as the Ludwig AI details. When aiming to employ this phrase effectively, bear in mind that sustained engagement is key to maintaining support and addressing concerns, and that merely reaching agreement does not automatically equate to "winning consensus". Alternatives such as "gaining acceptance" or "building support" can also be considered for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieving agreement

Focuses on the outcome of reaching an understanding, rather than the act of persuading.

gaining acceptance

Emphasizes the process of becoming widely approved or adopted.

securing approval

Highlights obtaining formal consent or permission.

building support

Stresses the effort involved in creating a base of endorsement.

forging unity

Implies creating a sense of togetherness or shared purpose.

cultivating accord

Suggests a careful and deliberate process of fostering harmony.

obtaining endorsement

Focuses on receiving a formal declaration of support.

garnering backing

Highlights the act of collecting or gathering support from various sources.

persuading others

Emphasizes the act of convincing individuals to agree.

unifying opinions

Concentrates on bringing diverse viewpoints into alignment.

FAQs

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

You can use "winning consensus" to describe the act of successfully gaining agreement from a group. For example, "The project manager focused on "winning consensus" among team members before finalizing the project plan."

What's the difference between "winning consensus" and "achieving consensus"?

"Winning consensus" implies a more active and potentially persuasive approach to gaining agreement, whereas "achieving consensus"/"achieving consensus" is a more neutral term that simply indicates agreement was reached.

What can I say instead of "winning consensus"?

You can use alternatives like "gaining acceptance", "building support", or "securing approval" depending on the specific context.

Is "winning consensus" formal or informal language?

"Winning consensus" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly used in professional or news-related discussions than in casual conversation.