confer about

USAGE SUMMARY

"confer about" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to have a discussion or exchange of ideas about a particular topic. Example: The team members conferred about the best strategy to complete the project on time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

"What does happen is we have conversations," Rather says -- usually to confer about joint appearances at charitable or civic events.

The New York Times - Magazine

Meyocks and Noe say they confer about three times a day.

The New York Times - Sports

They meet in the corridor to confer about what to cook for dinner.

The New York Times

The conductor, Laurence Cummings, wanted to confer about the timing of a cadenza.

The New York Times - Magazine

Each witness should view the lineup separately, and the witnesses should not confer about the crime.

The New York Times

After the season, Aikman and his agent, Leigh Steinberg, will confer about the quarterback's prospects next year.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

The present review confers about the pretreatment strategies that facilitate cellulose and hemicellulose acquiescent for hydrolysis.

Bioresource Technology

Mark Knoller (@markknoller) National Security Council meeting now underway at White House as Pres Obama confers about Syria situation with key advisors.

The Guardian

After about 45 minutes of argument, Mr. Fisher and his five questioners conferred about the strengths and pitfalls of his argument.

The New York Times

I have heard two matriarchs conferring about a teenage daughter, who looked visibly pregnant, and muttering about "getting it done" - a conversation that stopped abruptly as I approached.

The Guardian - Film

Even as the former president held forth at his home, prosecutors conferred about the grounds on which they would appeal the ruling to Zambia's High Court.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formal content, avoid replacing "confer about" with terms as colloquial as "talk over".

Common error

While "confer about" is grammatically correct, it may sound overly formal in casual settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "talk about" or "discuss" to maintain a natural tone in informal communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confer about" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of discussing or consulting on a particular matter. Ludwig shows that it is used to describe situations where people come together to share ideas or make decisions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

31%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "confer about" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of discussing or consulting on a particular subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is appropriate for formal and professional contexts, and can be commonly found in news, academic, and scientific publications. While it's a valid and useful phrase, it's best to avoid it in informal settings, where simpler alternatives like "talk about" or "discuss" may be more suitable. Remember that its use is prevalent in professional exchanges, but, as the analysis shows, more common terms exist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discuss the matter of

This alternative replaces "confer" with "discuss" and "about" with "the matter of", emphasizing the topic of discussion.

talk over

This is a more informal way to say discuss a topic, replacing "confer" with a more casual verb.

exchange views on

This phrase highlights the sharing of opinions and perspectives regarding a specific topic.

deliberate on

This suggests a more formal and careful consideration of a topic, suitable for serious discussions.

consult regarding

This emphasizes seeking advice or information from someone about a specific issue.

have a conversation about

This is a more explicit and less concise way to express the act of discussing something.

brainstorm ideas on

This phrase focuses on generating new ideas together about a particular subject.

review in relation to

This suggests an analysis or assessment of something in connection to a particular context or factor.

touch base on

A more informal idiom for briefly discussing something, often to update each other.

address the subject of

This implies bringing up a topic for discussion and dealing with it directly.

FAQs

How can I use "confer about" in a sentence?

You can use "confer about" to indicate a formal discussion or meeting to exchange ideas or seek advice on a specific topic. For example, "The team will "confer about" the new marketing strategy next week."

What can I say instead of "confer about"?

Alternatives to "confer about" include "discuss", "talk over", "consult regarding", or "deliberate on", depending on the formality and context of the situation.

Is it correct to say "confer on" instead of "confer about"?

"Confer on" is used when bestowing something, like an award or degree. "Confer about" is used when discussing a topic. Therefore, the choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "confer with" and "confer about"?

"Confer with" implies consulting or seeking advice from someone, while "confer about" means to discuss a specific topic. For example, "I need to "confer with" my lawyer" (seek advice) versus "We will "confer about" the contract details" (discuss the topic).