broach topic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broach topic" is not correct in English; it should be "broach the topic." You can use it when you want to introduce or bring up a subject for discussion.
Example: "During the meeting, I plan to broach the topic of budget cuts with the team."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Discussing a difficult to broach topic such as living donation, which hitherto could not be adequately discussed [51], may be an emotional burden to the patients and their social network.

BMC Nephrology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Some papers broach topics that would have been taboo several years ago, including H.I.V. in China's gay community and infection caused by contamination of the blood supply.

The New York Times

Prepare questions and think through options before broaching topics.

The New York Times

On radio and later TV "The Goldbergs" broached topics like anti-Semitism and the Holocaust.

The New York Times - Arts

I may have been scared broaching topics with Alba, but I had the advantage of time and preparation.

Harvard Business Review

A translation of a statement posted on an official Taiwanese government website said Trump and Tsai broached topics including the domestic economy and national defense, and "allowing the people better lives and a guarantee of security".

The Guardian

At El Diario, where she had worked for more than 20 years, Ms. Peláez's columns had a following, broaching topics that were openly sympathetic to Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela and that were critical of the Bush and Obama administrations.

The New York Times

The interviewer broached topics using broad, open-ended questions.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Older female patients did not always feel comfortable broaching topics such as incontinence and menopause.

BMC Women's Health

My parents never broach the topic.

The New Yorker

How do you broach the topic?

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "broach the topic" instead of "broach topic". Remember that "broach" requires a direct object when used in this context.

Common error

A frequent mistake is omitting the article "the" after "broach", resulting in the grammatically incorrect phrase "broach topic". Always remember to include "the" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broach topic" (incorrectly phrased; should be "broach the topic") functions as a verb phrase intended to describe the action of introducing a subject for discussion. However, as pointed out by Ludwig, it is ungrammatical without the article "the".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "broach topic" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "broach the topic", which means to introduce a subject for discussion. According to Ludwig, omitting the article "the" leads to ungrammatical phrasing. While examples of the incorrect form may exist, it's important to adhere to standard English grammar and use "broach the topic". Alternatives include "raise the subject" or "bring up the topic". The phrase is generally found in neutral or professional registers, particularly in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

raise the subject

This alternative directly replaces "broach" with "raise" while keeping the core meaning of introducing a topic.

bring up the topic

This is a common and slightly more informal way to say "broach the topic."

introduce the subject

Similar to "raise the subject", this emphasizes the act of presenting the topic.

address the topic

This suggests dealing with the topic directly.

mention the subject

This alternative is less direct and might imply a brief or casual introduction of the topic.

touch on the subject

Implies a brief or superficial discussion of the topic.

allude to the topic

This suggests an indirect reference to the topic, without explicitly stating it.

open the discussion on the subject

This phrase emphasizes the initiation of a broader discussion.

speak about the subject

A plain and simple way to replace the phrase, useful for everyday communication.

get down to business

Implies transitioning to important topics. Note the semantic transformation: this phrase is not appropriate in all the contexts.

FAQs

How do you correctly use "broach the topic" in a sentence?

Use "broach the topic" when you want to introduce a subject for discussion. For example, "I need to "broach the topic" of vacation time with my manager".

What is a more formal way to say "broach the topic"?

A more formal way to say "broach the topic" is to use phrases like "raise the subject" or "introduce the subject".

What's the difference between "broach the topic" and "avoid the topic"?

"Broach the topic" means to introduce a subject for discussion, while "avoid the topic" means to deliberately steer clear of discussing it.

Is it ever correct to say "broach topic" without the word "the"?

No, it is not correct. The proper phrasing is always "broach the topic". Omitting "the" is a grammatical error, as Ludwig AI indicates.