Guide 36 / 200 6 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “agree”
Six verbs that match agreement to formality.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Agree" is perfectly fine. But minutes and contracts reach for "concur," "endorse," "consent," "ratify" — each with a different legal weight.
ii · The swaps6 ways
- 01Concur formal
express agreement formally
I concur with the finding.
- 02Endorse formal
back publicly
The board endorsed the proposal.
- 03Consent formal
agree to something being done
The parties consented to the amendment.
- 04Ratify formal
formally approve, often by vote
The committee ratified the revised charter.
- 05Assent formal
formal, measured yes
The minister assented to the reforms.
- 06Align with neutral
agreement in direction, not identical
We align with the strategy as framed.