been talked about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been talked about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a subject has been the topic of discussion or conversation over a period of time. Example: "The new policy has been talked about extensively in recent meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Discipline has been talked about," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

"Other years it's been talked about," Martin said.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's definitely something that's been talked about," said defender Christie Rampone, the United States captain.

The New York Times - Sports

It's a use case that hasn't been talked about much.

TechCrunch

"It's been talked about.

The Guardian - Music

"It's been talked about too much".

The New York Times - Sports

"It's certainly been talked about".

The New York Times - Arts

That has been talked about.

The Guardian - Tech

Everybody has been talked about.

The New York Times - Sports

It's been talked about since at least the 1920s.

The New York Times

"This issue has been talked about extensively without resolution.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To make your writing more concise and avoid overusing passive voice, consider active voice constructions where appropriate, such as "People have discussed the issue extensively."

Common error

Avoid using "been talked about" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "The problem has been talked about but no action has been taken", try "We have discussed the problem but taken no action".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been talked about" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject has received the action of being discussed. As Ludwig indicates, it's commonly used to express that something has been a topic of conversation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "been talked about" is a grammatically sound and widely used passive construction signifying that a subject has been discussed. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and common usage. Predominantly found in news and media, the phrase serves to indicate familiarity or ongoing consideration of a topic. While versatile, it's essential to consider active voice alternatives for clearer and more direct writing. Related phrases like ""been discussed"" or ""been mentioned"" offer nuanced alternatives depending on the context. Be aware that while grammatically acceptable, always evaluate if an active sentence would be more clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

been discussed

Replaces "talked about" with a more formal synonym, "discussed".

been mentioned

Suggests a less in-depth discussion, focusing on a brief reference.

been under discussion

Implies a more formal and ongoing process of deliberation.

been subject to discussion

Similar to "been under discussion" but emphasizes the object of the discussion.

been a topic of conversation

Highlights the conversational aspect, suggesting informal discussions.

been widely reported

Focuses on the media coverage rather than general discussion.

been speculated about

Indicates that the topic has been subject to guesswork and conjecture.

been rumored

Suggests the information is circulating as an unconfirmed story.

been bandied about

Implies the topic is being discussed casually and often without serious consideration.

been kicked around

Similar to "been bandied about", suggesting informal and potentially unproductive discussion.

FAQs

How can I use "been talked about" in a sentence?

You can use "been talked about" to indicate that a topic has been the subject of discussion. For example, "The new policy has "been talked about" extensively in recent meetings."

What are some alternatives to "been talked about"?

Some alternatives include "been discussed", "been mentioned", or "been under discussion". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "has been talked about" or "has been discussed"?

Both "has "been talked about"" and "has "been discussed"" are grammatically correct. "Discussed" often implies a more formal or in-depth conversation, while "talked about" can be more general.

What's the difference between "been talked about" and "been speculated about"?

"Been "been talked about"" simply means something has been discussed. "Been "been speculated about"" means there's been guessing or conjecture, often without firm evidence.