back and forth discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

"back and forth discussion" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means having a conversation with one or more people in which arguments, ideas, and opinions are exchanged. For example, "In the lengthy back and forth discussion, the two sides were unable to come to an agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

There are a number of ways of commenting on a post, but it's difficult to reply and get a back and forth discussion going as you can on other networks.

The Guardian

There was a lot of back and forth discussion, such as: 'How would a machine gun orgasm sound?' In the Hindi version, the actors deconstruct the word 'chuth', the colloquial (and abusive term) for vagina, and the audience actually join in.

The Guardian

Which is essentially the type of "Back and Forth" discussion that we want our children to participate in when reading.

Huffington Post

The answer to that question has been the focus of a back and forth discussion between Nates Cohn and Silver in the past week.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It hopes that means more back-and-forth discussion on its pages.

MIT Technology Review

I'd say Twitter's better for back-and-forth discussion anyway, if you could be arsed with it.

The Guardian - Opinion

But The New York Times examined the Facebook pages of each agency because they allow for more detailed comments — providing a deeper look at how passengers were viewing communications — and more of a back-and-forth discussion.

The New York Times

The space agency initiated the understanding with the map agency, Mr. O'Keefe said, because there was more back-and-forth discussion than should have been necessary about requesting such images for the Columbia's flight.

The New York Times

Then, Mr. Yang dragged onto the same map icon a thread of e-mail messages from a group of Yahoo executives involving a back-and-forth discussion of dinner plans.

The New York Times - Tech

But in keeping with the goals of the initiative, after several minutes the conversation opened up to include an active back-and-forth discussion among the panelists and attendees.

Yale University

These are posts that inspire back-and-forth discussion in the comments and posts that you might want to share and react to — whether that's a post from a friend seeking advice, a friend asking for recommendations for a trip, or a news article or video prompting lots of discussion.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "back and forth discussion" to describe dynamic exchanges where participants actively respond to each other's points. It's particularly effective when highlighting the iterative nature of the conversation.

Common error

While "back and forth discussion" is acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal contexts. Opt for alternatives like "iterative dialogue" or "reciprocal exchange" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back and forth discussion" functions as a noun phrase describing a type of interaction. It emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the exchange, where participants actively respond to each other's contributions. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "back and forth discussion" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to describe a dynamic and interactive exchange of ideas. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usefulness across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media, Academia, and Science. While versatile, remember to use more formal alternatives like "iterative dialogue" or "reciprocal exchange" in professional writing to enhance precision and formality. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, you can effectively use "back and forth discussion" to add clarity and depth to your writing, while also preventing common stylistic pitfalls.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interactive dialogue

Emphasizes the interactive nature of the exchange, highlighting mutual engagement.

reciprocal conversation

Focuses on the give-and-take aspect, implying mutual exchange and responsiveness.

two-way communication

Highlights the bidirectional flow of information, stressing the importance of sending and receiving messages.

spirited debate

Emphasizes the lively and energetic exchange of differing opinions.

ongoing exchange

Highlights the continuous and evolving nature of the interaction.

iterative conversation

Focuses on the repetitive and refining nature of the exchange, suggesting multiple rounds of discussion.

collaborative deliberation

Emphasizes the joint effort in reaching a decision or understanding.

open discourse

Highlights the freedom and inclusiveness of the discussion.

bilateral exchange

Focuses on the mutual and balanced nature of the interaction between two parties.

conversational volley

Uses a metaphor of a sports game to describe conversation.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "back and forth discussion" in a sentence?

Use "back and forth discussion" to illustrate a dynamic exchange of ideas or opinions. For instance, "The negotiation involved a lengthy "back and forth discussion" before an agreement was reached."

What are some alternatives to "back and forth discussion"?

Consider using alternatives like "interactive dialogue", "reciprocal conversation", or "spirited debate" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "back and forth discussion" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "back and forth discussion" may sound informal in certain contexts. Opt for more formal alternatives like "iterative conversation" or "deliberation" in academic or professional settings.

What distinguishes "back and forth discussion" from a simple conversation?

"Back and forth discussion" implies a more dynamic and responsive exchange, where participants are actively engaging with and responding to each other's points, unlike a regular conversation which might be more linear or less interactive.