Consult

To seek another person's informed advice before deciding.

Reach for it when describing a decision process that gives relevant people or experts a real chance to advise

The planners will consult residents before changing the evening bus route.

• playful

  sound out

  an informal preliminary opinion is wanted

  not when Sounding someone out is private and tentative, not a transparent consultation.

• everyday

  ask

  a direct question is all the process requires

  not when Asking can be perfunctory, with no promise that the answer will influence the choice.

• professional

  engage

  ongoing participation extends beyond one question

  not when Engage is vague institutional language and can conceal one-way communication.

• professional

  seek advice

  expert guidance is the explicit purpose

  not when Advice-seeking is narrower than consulting affected people about lived experience.

• formal

  confer with

  people exchange views before action

  not when Confer suggests a discussion among near-peers and may not fit asking a specialist.

To refer to a source in order to obtain information.

Reach for it when describing a purposeful check of a record, guide, or reference

Consult the maintenance log before estimating when the vibration began.

• playful

  look up

  one fact is retrieved informally

  not when Look up is too narrow for studying a record or comparing several sources.

• everyday

  check

  quick verification against a source is enough

  not when Checking can be cursory and lacks consult's implication of using the source for guidance.

• everyday

  refer to

  a named source should be checked

  not when Referring to a source may mean mentioning it rather than reading it.

• ignore
• dictate
• guess
• disregard
• unilateral action

• consult residents

  The council will consult residents before selecting a permanent entrance.

• consult with

  Please consult with the duty engineer before restarting the pump.

• consult the record

  Investigators should consult the record rather than rely on memory.

Consultation is not shared decision-making unless participants have defined influence over the outcome.