Discourses on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Discourses on" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing or analyzing a particular topic or theme in a formal or academic context. An example could be "Discourses on social justice often highlight systemic inequalities." Alternative expressions include "Treatises on," "Discussions about," and "Essays on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The results hereunder thus contain two broad sections: families' patterns of use and discourses on the one hand, and school professionals' discourses on the other hand.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

Her daughter, Sue Ann, remembers her mother listening to one of Kahn's discourses on architecture and observing that she understood barely a word.

The New Yorker

He discourses on how he learned to move onstage.

The New York Times - Books

They are also invariably bound in discourses on nationalism.

Independent

They have different discourses on both the economy and international relations.

The Guardian

(Which makes you sound totally au fait with French discourses on art and representation).

The Guardian

The New Yorker, February 27 , 1926 P. 28Column discourses on children dancers, violinists and pianists.

The New Yorker

I was so absorbed in Trollope's hundred-page discourses on romantic perversity, I missed drink dates.

The New York Times - Books

Like The Prince, the Discourses on Livy admits of various interpretations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The aboriginal New Yorker discourses on "Secession," which he claims is a misuse of the verb..

The New Yorker

Or offer discourses on "your life, your choice" to defend drug use.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Incorporate the phrase to introduce complex socio-political themes, as it signals a high level of intellectual rigor to your audience.

Common error

While the phrase is a common noun/preposition pair, avoid using it in lowercase when you are referring to specific historical works such as Machiavelli's "Discourses on Livy". Conversely, do not capitalize it in general sentences if you are simply describing broad societal trends.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Discourses on" functions either as a plural noun combined with a preposition or a third-person singular verb with a preposition. As a noun, it designates formal communications, debates, or bodies of knowledge. As a verb, it describes the act of speaking or writing authoritatively. Based on examples from Ludwig, it is a versatile tool for framing intellectual subjects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "Discourses on" is a sophisticated and widely accepted phrase in formal English. According to Ludwig AI, it serves as an essential bridge between a speaker's intent and a complex subject, whether used as a noun or a verb. It is particularly effective in academic and journalistic writing to denote a deep, formal investigation into subjects like politics, art, and science. Writers should choose it over simpler alternatives like <a href="/s/discussions+about" target="_blank" rel="alternative">discussions about when they wish to convey a sense of authority and scholarly depth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Treatises on

Refers specifically to formal, systematic written works on a subject.

Discussions about

A more common and slightly less formal way to describe a debate or conversation.

Essays on

Focuses specifically on written compositions rather than the broader concept of discourse.

Debates regarding

Emphasizes the argumentative or conflicting nature of the subject matter.

Expositions on

Highlights the explanatory or descriptive nature of the presentation.

Dialogues concerning

Often used in philosophical contexts to describe an exchange of ideas.

Commentaries on

Implies a set of explanations or criticisms regarding a primary text or event.

Lectures on

Specifically refers to an oral presentation given for instructional purposes.

Dissertations on

Highly formal and usually restricted to academic theses or long formal treatises.

Conversations on

Much more informal and implies a casual exchange rather than a structured discourse.

FAQs

How do I use "Discourses on" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an intellectual study or a formal talk. For example, "The professor delivered several <a href="/s/discourses+on" target="_blank" rel="alternative">discourses on the evolution of democracy."

What is the difference between "Discourses on" and "discussions about"?

The phrase "Discourses on" is much more formal and usually refers to a structured, academic, or philosophical exploration, whereas <a href="/s/discussions+about" target="_blank" rel="alternative">discussions about is common in everyday speech.

Can "Discourses on" be used as a verb?

Yes, it can function as a verb phrase meaning to speak or write at length. For instance, "He frequently <a href="/s/discourses+on" target="_blank" rel="alternative">discourses on the merits of classical music."

Is it better to say "Discourses on" or "treatises on"?

It depends on the medium. Use <a href="/s/treatises+on" target="_blank" rel="alternative">treatises on if you are referring specifically to formal written documents. Use "Discourses on" if you want to include both written works and oral traditions or general societal debates.