Joint session

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Joint session" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a meeting or gathering where two or more groups come together to discuss or address a particular issue or agenda. Example: "The President addressed both houses of Congress during the joint session held last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

- Obama's first address to a joint session of Congress.

The Guardian

President Obama, to a joint session of Congress.

The New Yorker

Each time there is an opening, the Legislature elects a new regent in a joint session.

The New York Times

Thus, Mr. Gore will still be vice president, and he will preside over the joint session.

The New York Times

Mr. Clinton's eight annual appearances before a joint session of Congress ranked among his favorite rituals.

The New York Times

Modi will visit the Queen, stay at Chequers and address a joint session of parliament.

The Guardian - Books

(The electoral votes will be officially counted in a joint session of Congress on Jan . 5.

The New York Times

The speech was the president's second address before a joint session of Congress.

The New York Times

*An earlier version of this story identified the joint meeting as a "joint session".

The New Yorker

Those votes get formally counted on 6 January in a joint session of Congress.

The Guardian

A speech to a joint session of Congress later in the day?

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "joint session" to refer to legislative or parliamentary contexts to describe meetings that involve combined members of different bodies within the governing institution.

Common error

Avoid using "joint session" to describe regular team meetings or casual gatherings. This term is reserved for formal, often legislative, assemblies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "joint session" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject or object in a sentence. It denotes a specific type of meeting involving two or more groups, often within a legislative or governing body. Ludwig confirms its standard usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "joint session" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase, referring to a formal meeting of two or more groups, often legislative bodies. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is commonly used in news and media, formal business, and academic contexts, signaling a significant event or address. While alternatives like "combined meeting" or "joint assembly" exist, "joint session" remains the standard term for these assemblies. Understanding its proper context helps in avoiding misapplications, such as using it for informal gatherings. Its prevalence in authoritative sources underscores its importance in formal discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

combined meeting

Replaces "session" with "meeting", emphasizing the act of coming together.

joint assembly

Substitutes "session" with "assembly", highlighting the gathering of people.

combined sitting

Uses "sitting" instead of "session", referring to a period of being seated for a meeting.

joint conference

Replaces "session" with "conference", emphasizing a formal meeting for discussion.

bicameral meeting

Specifies that the meeting involves two chambers or houses.

unified session

Highlights the sense of unity and agreement in the session.

collaborative meeting

Focuses on the collaborative aspect of the meeting.

combined deliberation

Emphasizes the process of careful consideration and discussion.

integrated session

Suggests a session where different elements are brought together.

joint deliberation

Directly highlights the act of jointly discussing and considering matters.

FAQs

How is a "joint session" of Congress typically used?

A "joint session" of Congress is a formal meeting where members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate convene, often to hear an address from the President or another dignitary.

What's the difference between a "joint session" and a regular session of Congress?

A regular session involves either the House or Senate meeting separately to conduct legislative business. A "joint session" is when both chambers meet together for a specific purpose.

Are there alternatives to the phrase "joint session"?

While "joint session" is the standard term, alternatives like "combined meeting" or "joint assembly" can be used in less formal contexts, depending on the specific situation.

When might a president address a "joint session" of Congress?

A president might address a "joint session" for the State of the Union address, to present a significant policy proposal, or during times of national crisis to address the nation.