be talking about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'be talking about' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to introduce a subject that you are about to discuss. For example, "We've been talking about the importance of having a balanced diet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Vick could be talking about Eagles fans.

The New York Times - Sports

What could they possibly be talking about?

The New Yorker

"We would be talking about other things.

The New York Times

What would the candidates be talking about?

The New York Times

And people should be talking about it.

The New York Times

What will they be talking about?

The New Yorker

"We should be talking about big things".

The New York Times

"They may be talking about an agenda.

The New York Times

She appeared to be talking about Jackie.

The New York Times

He could almost be talking about himself.

Independent

What would we be talking about?

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be talking about" to introduce a topic that is currently under discussion or will be discussed shortly. For example, "We will "be talking about" the new marketing strategy in the meeting."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "be talking about". Ensure the tense matches the context. For example, instead of "We was talking about the project", use "We were "be talking about" the project."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be talking about" functions as a present continuous tense construction, indicating an ongoing action or a future plan. It is used to express what someone is currently discussing or what they intend to discuss, as seen in various examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be talking about" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate an ongoing or planned discussion on a specific topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across different contexts, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, it's essential to use the correct tense and consider more formal alternatives like "addressing" or "discussing" for specific writing styles. The phrase is adaptable and serves to focus attention on what is being or will be addressed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discussing

Focuses more directly on the act of discussion, omitting the auxiliary verbs.

referring to

Indicates a direct reference to a specific topic or subject.

conversing about

Emphasizes the interactive nature of the discussion.

addressing

Implies a more formal and direct engagement with a topic.

focusing on

Highlights the concentration of attention on a specific subject.

concerned with

Shifts the focus to the subject of concern rather than the act of talking.

on the subject of

A more formal way of introducing a topic of conversation.

speculating about

Highlights the conjectural or uncertain nature of the discussion.

debating

Suggests a more argumentative or contested discussion.

pondering

Shifts the focus to internal thought rather than outward discussion.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "be talking about" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "discussing", "addressing", or "referring to" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "be talking about" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to indicate that a topic is currently being discussed or will be discussed soon. It's versatile and fits well in both formal and informal settings.

What's the difference between "be talking about" and "discuss"?

"Be talking about" implies an ongoing or future discussion, while "discuss" is more general and can refer to a completed action. For example, "We will "be talking about" it tomorrow" versus "We discussed it yesterday".

Is "be talking about" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, it is suitable for formal writing, but you can consider more formal alternatives like "addressing" or "on the subject of" for a slightly more elevated tone.