# propose (10-propose.com)

People say "propose" when they want to put an idea forward for others to consider. A person might propose a plan, a toast, or marriage. It is an offer, not a demand.

## What a model may hear
- propose in consensus protocols (distributed systems and blockchain): assume the speaker is initiating a ballot or nomination phase in an algorithm like Paxos or Raft, where a value is suggested for agreement
- propose in planning systems (artificial intelligence and automated planning): treat the word as a planner action that generates candidate steps or subgoals toward a solution
- propose in formal logic (mathematics and proof assistants): interpret it as introducing a conjecture, lemma, or theorem to be proven or refuted
- propose in version control (software development workflows): expect a pull request or patch submission, especially in systems like Gerrit that use "propose" terminology

## Where people and models part ways
- Says: "I propose we meet tomorrow"
  Means: I am suggesting a meeting time
  May be taken as: model may log this as initiating a scheduling protocol or consensus round
  Say instead: "I suggest we meet tomorrow"
- Says: "Propose a solution to this problem"
  Means: Give me ideas I can consider
  May be taken as: model may generate a formal plan in a planning domain language or structured proof format
  Say instead: "Brainstorm some solutions for me to consider"
- Says: "She proposed last night"
  Means: She asked someone to marry her
  May be taken as: model may flag as anomalous input or search for a technical proposal event
  Say instead: "She asked him to marry her last night"

## Tips
- Use 'suggest' or 'offer' instead if you only want casual ideas
- Add 'to me' or 'for discussion' to signal human conversation, not protocol
- Avoid 'propose' near technical terms like 'node,' 'leader,' or 'quorum'
- Say 'formally propose' only if you want structured output
- Check if the model responds with ballot numbers or phase labels; rephrase if so

## Often confused with
- proposition: more formal, often a statement to evaluate
- pose: to present a question or problem, not offer an idea
- propound: archaic synonym, rarely triggers technical senses
- nominate: selecting a candidate, not suggesting a plan
- submit: sending for approval, stronger commitment than propose