a small discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small discussion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a conversation with few people that is relatively brief. For example, "We had a small discussion about the future of the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

With a few friends he had met in Bern, Einstein started a small discussion group, self-mockingly named "The Olympia Academy", which met regularly to discuss science and philosophy.

Wikipedia

This is not the case on a small discussion forum or where both sides of the case are made out in discussion.

The Guardian

A small discussion about the difficulty of surrendering in a fight segues perfectly into a reminder that giving up your own desires to honour God is a good idea.

The Guardian - Sport

After a small discussion about whether the aroma was, in fact, "weird" or "just bad", reinforcements were brought in with inadequate tools and a sniffer dog, travellers were evacuated and the next two hours or so were spent hanging about and listening to the noises of a train car being disassembled.

The Guardian - Books

The chapter concludes with a small discussion on further nonidealities of ΔΣ modulators, which are largely outside the scope of this text.

Wireless Receiver Architectures and Design Antennas, RF, Synthesizers, Mixed Signal, and Digital Signal Processing

"The jobs problem will be the defining one of the next ten to twenty years," Mr Schmidt said in a small discussion on the sidelines of the Economic Forum.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The FIGs Seminar is a small discussion-based course in which you develop skills that enhance academic achievement and discover how disciplines relate to one another.

Huffington Post

Due to the size of the group and the limited time frame allocated (one hour) this did not lend itself to the level of interaction possible in a smaller discussion group [ 21, 22].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

In 2008, students were taught how to analyze an exam question in a mini-lecture given in small discussion sections the week after the midterm and then assigned analysis homework on two of four questions missed by more than 40% of the class on the midterm.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Just two weeks ago, faculty members at Amherst College voted against participating in edX, the nonprofit collaboration founded by Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, citing concerns about costs and about how "massive open online courses" would affect a residential campus devoted to small discussion classes.

The New York Times

In the pilot program this year, six lectures will be given, each accompanied by a small group discussion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a small discussion" when you want to emphasize that the conversation was brief and involved few people. This can help set the tone for your writing and avoid exaggerating the importance or length of the conversation.

Common error

Avoid using "a small discussion" when the conversation was actually extensive or had a major impact. Using a more appropriate phrase, like "in-depth analysis", maintains accuracy and avoids misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small discussion" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject or object within a sentence, referring to a conversation that is limited in scope and duration. Ludwig examples highlight its use in various contexts, showing how it's integrated into different sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small discussion" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a brief and limited conversation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. While it's suitable for general use, remember to choose more formal alternatives like "brief deliberation" in professional settings if a more elevated tone is required. When using this phrase, ensure the described conversation was genuinely concise to avoid overstating its significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short conversation

Substitutes "discussion" with "conversation" implying a less structured exchange.

a brief chat

Replaces "discussion" with "chat", suggesting a more informal and casual exchange.

a quick talk

Uses "talk" instead of "discussion", suggesting a very brief and informal exchange.

a minor debate

Replaces "discussion" with "debate", implying a slight disagreement or argument.

a light exchange

Uses "exchange" to emphasize the back-and-forth nature of the conversation and "light" to define it is not serious.

a short deliberation

Replaces "discussion" with "deliberation", implying a more formal and thoughtful consideration.

a limited dialogue

Uses "dialogue" to indicate a structured conversation and "limited" to specify it's not exhaustive.

a small consultation

Replaces "discussion" with "consultation", suggesting a seeking of advice or information.

a preliminary exchange

Uses "exchange" to emphasize the give-and-take of ideas and "preliminary" to indicate it's an initial step.

a brief hearing

Replaces "discussion" with "hearing", suggesting that someone is presenting their views for consideration in the conversation.

FAQs

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

You can use "a small discussion" to describe a brief conversation, such as, "We had a small discussion about the project's deadline" or "After "a small discussion", we decided to postpone the meeting".

What are some alternatives to "a small discussion"?

Alternatives include "a brief chat", "a short conversation", or "a quick talk", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a small discussion" in formal writing?

While "a small discussion" is acceptable, in more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "a brief deliberation" or "a limited dialogue" to convey a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "a small discussion" and "a lengthy debate"?

"A small discussion" implies a short, informal conversation, while "a lengthy debate" suggests a prolonged and often more formal argument. They differ significantly in scope and intensity.