I chatted him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I chatted him" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not usable because "chat" is an intransitive verb and does not take a direct object in this context. Example: "I chatted with him about our weekend plans."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

(Sometimes I wish I were British so I could type Watercolour. Isn't that classy? And I'd say "Whilst" too. And "Zed". And "I chatted him up in the tube because I fancied him". And "Wanker").

Huffington Post

Jeff the Chef got a little incensed as I kept flashing him with my camera while he was bringing food up from the ship's hold but he stayed in good spirits while I chatted him up.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I tried chatting him–I think it was a him up.

Forbes

When I chatted with him in May, prospects were better.

The Guardian - Tech

I chatted to him again in August and he was so down to earth".

The Guardian - Sport

I chatted with him about war, and he said he supported the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns.

The Guardian

Peter Brook also used to meet Beckett regularly, as I discovered when I chatted to him after the performance in Paris of Fragments.

Independent

While signing books in Zhang's office, I chatted with him and two other young editors, and the conversation turned to translation.

The New Yorker

The second: it had since been revealed that Monsegur was an F.B.I. informant during the majority of the time I chatted with him.

The New Yorker

I chatted with him about today's launch.

TechCrunch

I chatted to him afterwards and he was not talking about retirement.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context when choosing a replacement phrase; "conversed with" is more formal than "talked to".

Common error

Avoid using "chat" directly with a person as the object (e.g., "I chatted him"). "Chat" is typically intransitive and requires a preposition like "with" or needs to be used as a noun: "I chatted with him" or "I had a chat with him."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I chatted him" functions as a narrative statement describing a past interaction. However, it is grammatically incorrect because the verb "chat" in this context needs to be intransitive and needs to be used with a preposition "with", as explained by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I chatted him" aims to describe a casual conversation, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig analysis highlights that the verb "chat" requires the preposition "with" in such constructions, or it needs to be used as a noun. Despite its presence in some informal contexts like news media, standard English dictates using alternatives such as "I talked to him" or "I had a chat with him". Therefore, it is best to avoid "I chatted him" in formal writing to ensure clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I had a chat with him

Corrects the grammar by using "chat" as a noun with the verb "had".

I talked to him

Replaces "chatted" with the more standard "talked to", correcting the grammatical issue.

I spoke with him

Substitutes "chatted" with "spoke", providing a slightly more formal tone.

I had a conversation with him

Uses a more formal phrasing to express the act of conversing.

I engaged in conversation with him

A more elaborate way of saying "I talked to him", suitable for formal contexts.

I conferred with him

Implies a more serious or official discussion.

I communicated with him

A broad term indicating any form of communication, not necessarily verbal.

I passed the time chatting with him

Emphasizes the casual and leisurely nature of the conversation.

I yakked with him

Informal and colloquial, suggesting a lengthy and possibly trivial conversation.

I gossiped with him

Suggests the conversation involved sharing personal or private information about others.

FAQs

How can I properly use "chat" in a sentence?

Use "chat" as an intransitive verb with the preposition "with" (e.g., "I chatted with him") or as a noun (e.g., "I had a chat with him").

What can I say instead of "I chatted him"?

You can use alternatives like "I talked to him", "I spoke with him", or "I conversed with him" depending on the context.

Is "I chatted him" grammatically correct?

No, "I chatted him" is not grammatically correct. The verb "chat" requires a preposition such as "with" when used in this context.

What's the difference between "I chatted him" and "I chatted with him"?

"I chatted him" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I chatted with him", where "with" is necessary to link the verb "chatted" to the person being spoken to.