a separate conversations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a separate conversations" is not correct in English.
It should be "a separate conversation" or "separate conversations." You can use the correct form when referring to discussions that are distinct from one another. Example: "We need to have a separate conversation about the budget before the meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He suggested to Mr. Wilpon and Mr. Katz that a trial could be both embarrassing and damaging to their reputations, and in a separate conversations he lobbied the trustee to come to a settlement.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Triple Town sparks a separate conversation though.

The Guardian - Tech

In a separate conversation, Ognianova was equally direct.

The New Yorker

"Not at all," he said in a separate conversation.

The New York Times - Arts

In a separate conversation, he suggested that, as a reader, editorial content could improve as well.

The New York Times

If everyone has a separate conversation, it can be hard for anyone to be heard.

The New York Times

"There are about five methods I'm employing," Ms. Brown said, in a separate conversation.

The New York Times - Arts

In a separate conversation with a top union official, Mr. Percoco was less direct, but suggested that the attorney general was interested in the Senate seat for himself.

The New York Times

"There's a conversation about getting kids to code, and making everybody a maker, and a separate conversation about fixing tech to make it more diverse," he says.

The Guardian - Tech

And in a separate conversation in the podcast, David Gillen talks to Evelyn Rusli about Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn, who has become an increasingly important figure in Silicon Valley.

The New York Times

In a separate conversation, and in the Economic View column in Sunday Business, Tyler Cowen, the George Mason University economist, says that a tax increase is inevitable sooner or later.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure that the noun 'conversation' agrees in number (singular or plural) with its article or quantifier. Use "a separate conversation" for one instance and "separate conversations" for multiple instances.

Common error

Avoid using the article "a" with a plural noun like "conversations". This creates a grammatical error that can confuse readers. Always match singular articles with singular nouns and plural articles (or no article) with plural nouns.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a separate conversations" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "a separate conversation" (singular) or "separate conversations" (plural). This highlights the importance of noun-article agreement in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a separate conversations" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are either "a separate conversation" (singular) or "separate conversations" (plural). Ludwig identifies the error and suggests correcting the noun-article agreement. It's crucial to ensure grammatical accuracy regardless of the source type or context. While the phrase appears primarily in news media, its incorrect usage detracts from its effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a separate conversation

Singular form of the noun 'conversation' to correct the grammar.

separate conversations

Plural form of the noun 'conversation' to correct the grammar.

individual conversations

Emphasizes the distinct and unique nature of each conversation.

distinct discussions

Replaces 'conversation' with 'discussion' to highlight a more formal exchange.

different discussions

Uses 'different' to indicate that the discussions are not the same.

unrelated discussions

Highlights the lack of connection between the discussions.

independent discussions

Stresses that each discussion is self-contained and not influenced by others.

parallel conversations

Suggests that conversations are happening simultaneously but separately.

discrete conversations

Implies that the conversations are carefully separated and distinct.

separate dialogues

Uses 'dialogues' as a more formal synonym for 'conversations'.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a separate conversations"?

The correct phrasing is either "a separate conversation" if you are referring to one distinct conversation, or "separate conversations" if you are referring to multiple distinct conversations.

Is it grammatically correct to use "a" before a plural noun like "conversations"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The indefinite article "a" is used before singular nouns, while plural nouns typically do not use "a". Instead, you can use words like "some", "several", or simply use the plural noun without an article.

What are some alternatives to "a separate conversations"?

Depending on the intended meaning, you could use alternatives such as "a distinct conversation", "individual discussions", or simply "separate conversations".

How do I choose between using "a separate conversation" and "separate conversations"?

Use "a separate conversation" when referring to one specific, distinct conversation. Use "separate conversations" when referring to multiple, distinct conversations. The choice depends on whether you are discussing one or more instances.