a useful discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a useful discussion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a conversation or dialogue that provides valuable insights or information. Example: "The meeting concluded with a useful discussion about the project's future direction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

In particular there was a useful discussion on the merits and problems of using 'gut-feelings' when marking.

BMC Medical Education

There's a useful discussion of Janáček, Dostoevsky, Chéreau, and other matters at the Times's ArtsBeat blog.

The New Yorker

This is a useful discussion to have three months into a new job, anyway.

The New York Times

But, he added, his book does start "a useful discussion about the criminal justice system".

Independent

And I think that helping people to plan a life that includes all that, but perhaps more serially, is a useful discussion.

The New York Times

"I'm not interested in the U.S. tilting these negotiations one way or another while they are having a useful discussion," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

So after my diagnosis, a period on sick leave and a very useful discussion with an advisor on the Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline, I decided to tell my managers and HR team about my MS. A hefty part of the "coming out" process, it was a great experience.

Independent

It does come with a very useful Discussion Guide for classroom use, however, so a good teacher might be able to compensate for this shortcoming.

Huffington Post

Hopenhayn and Rogerson (1993) consider policy evaluation in a calibrated equilibrium model using firm-level data. 2 A very useful discussion of this and related issues can be found in Hansen and Heckman (1996).

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

A very useful discussion of exactly what is a pilot study has been given by Thabane et al. [ 2] Such kinds of study may have various purposes such as testing study procedures, validity of tools, estimation of the recruitment rate, and estimation of parameters such as the variance of the outcome variable to calculate sample size etc.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

If Ms. Rosen "had chosen her words differently," said Ms. Udziela, a grandmother of five, "this might have been a more useful discussion, something we should be talking about".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a useful discussion", ensure the context clearly indicates what made the discussion useful, such as specific outcomes or insights gained.

Common error

Avoid using "a useful discussion" when the conversation was merely polite or preliminary. Reserve it for instances where tangible benefits or actionable outcomes resulted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a useful discussion" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "useful" modifies the noun "discussion". The Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

45%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a useful discussion" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to describe a productive and beneficial conversation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. To enhance clarity, specifying the outcomes of the discussion is recommended. While the phrase is acceptable, avoid overstating its usefulness in situations where the conversation was merely polite. Alternatives like "a productive conversation" or "an informative exchange" can also be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a productive conversation

Replaces "discussion" with "conversation" and "useful" with "productive", emphasizing the positive outcome.

a helpful dialogue

Substitutes "discussion" with "dialogue" and "useful" with "helpful", focusing on the assistance provided.

an informative exchange

Replaces "discussion" with "exchange" and "useful" with "informative", highlighting the knowledge gained.

a valuable conversation

Substitutes "useful" with "valuable", emphasizing the worth of the discussion.

a fruitful exchange of ideas

Replaces "discussion" with "exchange of ideas" and "useful" with "fruitful", focusing on the positive generation of thoughts.

a beneficial consultation

Replaces "discussion" with "consultation" and "useful" with "beneficial", suggesting a more formal and helpful interaction.

a constructive dialogue

Replaces "discussion" with "dialogue" and "useful" with "constructive", highlighting its building and improving nature.

a worthwhile deliberation

Substitutes "discussion" with "deliberation" and "useful" with "worthwhile", emphasizing the value of careful consideration.

a gainful conversation

Substitutes "useful" with "gainful", highlighting the profit or advantage derived from the conversation.

an enlightening discussion

Replaces "useful" with "enlightening", highlighting the clarification or understanding gained.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a useful discussion"?

You can use alternatives like "a productive conversation", "an informative exchange", or "a valuable conversation" depending on the context.

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

You can use "a useful discussion" to describe a conversation that led to positive outcomes or insights. For example, "The team had a useful discussion about the project's goals."

What makes a discussion "useful"?

A discussion can be considered "useful" if it leads to a better understanding of a topic, helps in making decisions, or results in actionable steps. It implies that the conversation had a positive and practical outcome.

Is "a useful discussion" formal or informal?

The phrase "a useful discussion" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile choice for various communication settings.