A good solution often takes competing needs into account.

The idea

Strike a balance between means find a workable compromise between different needs or aims. The past tense is struck.

Examples

  • The new schedule strikes a balance between work and family time.
  • The designer struck a balance between comfort and style.
  • Our town must strike a balance between tourism and protecting wildlife.
  • The teacher struck a balance between guidance and independence.
  • The budget strikes a balance between saving and investing in repairs.
  • The app aims to strike a balance between privacy and convenience.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Avoid hit a balance: the usual combination is strike a balance.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the missing word. We need to ___ a balance between speed and accuracy. (strike / strikes)

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    strike

    strike follows to in the base form.

  2. Choose the missing word. The committee ___ a balance between cost and quality last month. (struck / strikes)

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    struck

    struck fits the completed action last month.

  3. Choose the missing word. The plan strikes a balance ___ safety and freedom. (between / at)

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    between

    between introduces the two competing needs.

Use it today

Describe a balance you want to strike in your daily life.