The committee reached a decision ___ consensus.

The committee reached a decision ___ consensus.

• A. In
• B. With
• C. On
• D. By

Answer: (D)

A decision reached by consensus is describing the method through which the outcome was achieved. Consensus means general agreement within the group, and using by shows the means or method of achieving that result. Saying the committee reached a decision by consensus is the standard, formal way to express that the group came to an agreement rather than deciding by vote or other means. The other prepositions aren’t the natural idiom here; in consensus or on consensus aren’t standard for this meaning, and with consensus is less common in this construction.

A decision reached by consensus is describing the method through which the outcome was achieved. Consensus means general agreement within the group, and using by shows the means or method of achieving that result. Saying the committee reached a decision by consensus is the standard, formal way to express that the group came to an agreement rather than deciding by vote or other means. The other prepositions aren’t the natural idiom here; in consensus or on consensus aren’t standard for this meaning, and with consensus is less common in this construction.