a first discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

'a first discussion' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an initial conversation about something. For example: "We had a first discussion about the project last week and agreed to move forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "The cabinet have had a first discussion on the next steps following the consultation on same sex marriage and the registration of civil partnerships and have asked for some further detail.

BBC

A first discussion with colleagues from different SHI systems yielded the following preliminary data: Germany (126 SHI schemes, covering 70 million insured) has about 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, with administrative cost ranging between 5 and 6% of revenues The Netherlands (covering 15.2 million) has about 7300 FTE with 4.4% admin cost.

Health Economics Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Dennis Ross, the American envoy, met Mr. Barak late on Wednesday and Mr. Arafat today, and was expected to hold a second discussion with Mr. Barak before heading home.

The New York Times

After one hearing that prompted the N.F.L. to reshape several policies toward concussion management and another on Monday, the House Judiciary Committee announced Wednesday afternoon that a third discussion on football brain injuries would be held Feb. 1 in Houston.

The New York Times

A second discussion relates to which concentration should be used as C PM.

Heritage Science

The XWP set out its responses to the initial consultation in a second discussion paper (XWP 2003a).

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Following the live portion of the interview, a second discussion will be taped to play during "The O'Reilly Factor" on Feb. 3 on Fox News.

Los Angeles Times

In a second discussion, the Brazilian investigators accepted and included the changes and amendments suggested by the San Diego team in the Portuguese version.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Next step would be to ask both parents, and fixing a day - and meet up with everyone in either families - and have a good first discussion.

WikiHow

The first discussion of a bridge in a public forum was in 1954, when Anton P. Torsvik proposed a bridge to the major and municipal engineer of Fjell.

Wikipedia

You don't need to come up with a perfect answer on the first discussion, either.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a first discussion", ensure the context clarifies what is being discussed to avoid ambiguity. Provide context for a clear understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "a first discussion" repeatedly in close proximity without varying your language. This can make your writing monotonous. Use alternatives like "initial conversation" or "preliminary talk" to improve flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a first discussion" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies an initial instance of deliberation or conversation about a topic. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a first discussion" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote an initial conversation or deliberation. While relatively rare, as indicated by Ludwig, it finds its place across various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal settings. When using this phrase, it's beneficial to provide sufficient context to avoid ambiguity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and effective for conveying the commencement of a dialogue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial conversation

This alternative is a more formal and concise way to express the idea of a first discussion.

preliminary talk

This alternative uses "talk" instead of "discussion", implying a less formal setting.

opening dialogue

This alternative emphasizes the interactive and conversational nature of the initial discussion.

initial consultation

This alternative suggests a more formal and professional context for the first discussion.

first meeting

This alternative is a broader term that may or may not involve a detailed discussion.

introductory conversation

This alternative highlights the fact that the discussion is serving as an introduction to a topic.

early deliberation

This alternative emphasizes the careful consideration involved in the initial discussion.

initial exchange

This alternative suggests a brief and simple conversation.

primary discussion

This alternative highlights the importance or priority of the discussion.

starting conversation

This alternative focuses on the act of beginning a conversation.

FAQs

How can I use "a first discussion" in a sentence?

You can use "a first discussion" to refer to an initial conversation about a specific topic. For example, "We had a first discussion about the budget."

What's a more formal alternative to "a first discussion"?

A more formal alternative could be "initial consultation" or "preliminary talk", depending on the context.

Is "a first discussion" redundant? Can I just say "first discussion"?

While "first discussion" is grammatically correct, "a first discussion" sounds more natural in many contexts. The article "a" provides a smoother flow.

What's the difference between "a first discussion" and "a second discussion"?

"A first discussion" refers to the initial conversation on a topic, while "a second discussion" implies a follow-up conversation after an initial exchange.