comfortable to talk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comfortable to talk" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate expression would be "comfortable talking." Example: "I feel comfortable talking about my feelings with my close friends."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Is it polite and comfortable to talk about it?

The Guardian - Opinion

It was a lot more relaxed, which made it more comfortable to talk.

The Guardian

It's comfortable to talk on these issues to people who already get them.

The Guardian

As we grow older it's become more comfortable to talk and just sit, there's no nervousness that we have to do something special.

The New York Times

"I got housing and benefits information, and having someone I feel comfortable to talk to about personal stuff has made a huge difference".

The Guardian

My appreciation grew even more when I realized that everyone was comfortable to talk about their jobs, as library stacker, museum security guard or paper feeder.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

It's not really a comfortable topic to talk about.

The Guardian

When you talk to your child, make her/him feel comfortable enough to talk emotionally.

WikiHow

I never felt comfortable enough to talk to anyone about it until I was in college.

HuffPost

However, if local providers were concerned, they felt comfortable enough to talk with MHEC-RAP about it.

BMC Health Services Research

Find a comfortable place to talk with them.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the gerund form "comfortable talking" or "comfortable discussing" for grammatical correctness. For example, instead of saying "I am comfortable to talk about my feelings", say "I am comfortable talking about my feelings."

Common error

Avoid using the infinitive form "to talk" after "comfortable" when describing an action. The correct form is the gerund (" alking"") or a different phrasing such as "at ease to discuss" or "comfortable discussing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase primarily functions as an adjective describing a state of ease or willingness related to the action of speaking. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not grammatically correct in standard English; the gerund form is preferable. Nevertheless, Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

23%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "comfortable to talk" appears in a variety of sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The preferred phrasing is "comfortable talking" or alternatives like "at ease discussing". Although "comfortable to talk" is often used to express a feeling of ease in discussing a topic, it's crucial to prioritize correct grammar, especially in formal settings. Given its frequent use in news and media, it is understandable but should be replaced with suggested semantically equivalents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comfortable discussing

Replaces the infinitive verb form with a gerund, making it grammatically correct.

at ease discussing

Uses the idiom "at ease" to convey a sense of comfort, paired with a gerund.

relaxed about discussing

Emphasizes a state of relaxation in relation to the act of discussion, paired with a gerund.

easy to talk to

Focuses on the accessibility and approachability of a person or topic.

open to discussing

Highlights a willingness and receptiveness to engage in conversation.

approachable for discussion

Focuses on being easy to approach for the purpose of having a discussion.

willing to discuss

Highlights a willingness to engage in conversation.

not hesitant to discuss

Emphasizes the absence of reluctance to talk about something.

find it easy to discuss

Highlights the ease in talking about something.

feel free to discuss

Indicates permission and encouragement to talk openly.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "comfortable to talk"?

The grammatically correct way to express this is to use the gerund form, such as "comfortable talking" or "comfortable discussing".

What does it mean to be "comfortable talking" about something?

It means you feel at ease, relaxed, and willing to discuss a particular topic. Other ways to express this include being "at ease discussing" or being "open to discussing" the subject.

Can I use "comfortable to talk" in formal writing?

It's best to avoid "comfortable to talk" in formal writing. Instead, opt for more grammatically sound alternatives such as "comfortable discussing" or "easy to talk about" to maintain a professional tone.

Is there a difference between "comfortable talking" and "comfortable discussing"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "comfortable talking" generally refers to the act of speaking, while "comfortable discussing" implies a more in-depth conversation or exchange of ideas. Both are grammatically correct.