Earlier discussions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Earlier discussions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to conversations or topics that were previously addressed or talked about. Example: "In light of our earlier discussions, I believe we should move forward with the proposed plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Earlier discussions about the cyclone's effect had focused on winds breaking up the ice or driving ice floes into areas of warmer water.

The New York Times

Earlier discussions of erotomania and star stalking had depicted offenders as both male and female but generally of lower status than their victims.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Earlier discussions of the authenticity of the fragments were often based on the faulty assumption that the fragments were either all genuine or all spurious.

SEP

Earlier discussions suggested that efficacy trials should recruit health care workers and first-line responders like those who do burials or track contacts of known infected people.

Science Magazine

Earlier discussions with Sony had flatlined over price, but he says the company was willing to continue to fight independently, too.

TechCrunch

Earlier discussions that derived from those that studied transgenerational phenomena focused on the classical set of DNMTs.

Cell and Bioscience

The couples, who are paid $1,800 and must consider themselves happily married, are asked to discuss a contentious issue (identified in earlier discussions) for only a half hour during the second session.

The New York Times

Examples of beam patterns obtained through the described approach are presented and discussed in Section 4. We recall from our earlier discussions that samples of the noise field taken by the array elements are generally correlated.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In earlier discussions, which broke down, Mr. Malone considered taking a stake in NTL.

The New York Times

"Throughout earlier discussions about the case, there was no mention of impending murder charges," he said.

The Guardian

Mr Esser had trumpeted his earlier discussions with the French group in order to shore up his defences.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referencing "earlier discussions", be specific about the context or topic to ensure clarity for the reader. Provide a brief recap or link to relevant documents if necessary.

Common error

Avoid assuming your audience remembers the specifics of the "earlier discussions". Always provide sufficient context or a brief summary to ensure understanding, especially in formal reports or presentations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earlier discussions" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. Ludwig indicates this phrase is correct and suitable for written English. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase its versatility in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earlier discussions" is a frequently used and grammatically sound phrase that serves to reference previous conversations or deliberations. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Scientific publications. While versatile, it's important to provide sufficient context to avoid ambiguity. Consider using alternatives like "previous conversations" or "prior deliberations" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to always offer context or a brief recap of those "earlier discussions" to ensure your audience can easily follow your train of thought.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Earlier conversations

Focuses on the conversational aspect of the discussions and emphasizes their occurrence at a previous time.

Previous conversations

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of the discussions being in the past, using a more general term for "discussions".

Past conversations

Less formal, refers to conversational aspect and emphasizes their occurrence at a previous time.

Prior deliberations

Highlights the formal and considered nature of the previous talks, suitable for more official contexts.

Past consultations

Suggests a focus on seeking advice or expertise in the previous discussions.

Previous dialogues

Less formal, alternative referring to a structured exchange of views or ideas that happened before.

Preliminary talks

Implies that the earlier discussions were introductory or exploratory in nature.

Preceding dialogues

Formal alternative, referring to a structured exchange of views or ideas that happened before.

Initial exchanges

Highlights the interactive aspect of the discussions, emphasizing the back-and-forth communication.

Aforementioned discussions

A formal way to refer back to discussions that have already been explicitly mentioned.

FAQs

How can I use "earlier discussions" in a sentence?

You can use "earlier discussions" to refer back to previous conversations or deliberations. For example, "Based on our "earlier discussions", we've decided to proceed with the project."

What are some alternatives to saying "earlier discussions"?

Alternatives include "previous conversations", "prior deliberations", or "initial talks", depending on the context.

Is "earlier discussions" formal or informal?

"Earlier discussions" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality often depends more on the surrounding language and the specific context of the communication.

How do I provide context for "earlier discussions" in my writing?

To provide context, briefly summarize the key points of the "earlier discussions" or reference specific documents or meetings where they took place. For example, "In our earlier discussions on project budgeting, we identified several areas for potential cost savings."