conversation is held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conversation is held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a discussion or dialogue takes place, often in a formal or structured context. Example: "During the meeting, a conversation is held about the future direction of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Television, though, is where our national conversation is held.

The Guardian - Opinion

Her first conversation is held with a tech-industry magnate who takes her to lunch to talk about starting a literary magazine: The billionaire had been keen to give me the outline of his life story, which had begun unprepossessingly and ended — obviously — with him being the relaxed, well-heeled man who sat across the table from me today.

The New Yorker

"The conversation is held about the expected board gift".

Forbes

It is incredible to know that I can pick up the phone or have a glass of wine with a mentor and trust that the conversation is held in confidence and that they are going to be honest with me in their advice.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In Tottenham, the conversation was held in partnership with a citizens' inquiry.

The Guardian

The conversation was held between the colonel, 38, and his family as they watched the flight from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center.

The New York Times

Indeed, he came to think that if a "debriefing" conversation was held soon after an upsetting event it could help prevent the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The New Yorker

Mr. Bush's conversation was held two hours after he and Mr. Blair made a late morning appearance at the high school here, interrupting their weekend of talks.

The New York Times

Ash said he and John Hart, his Cleveland counterpart, had a "very casual conversation" at the general managers meetings but added, "No proposals were made and no conversation was held along that direction".

The New York Times - Sports

If you're fantasy booking at home or merely from your TV studio in Washington, it's fun to imagine that this conversation was held: Biden: Liz, I am running for president.

The Guardian - Opinion

One Greek government official described the 50-minute call as "constructive", adding: "The conversation was held in a positive climate, geared towards finding a mutually beneficial solution for Greece and the eurozone".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conversation is held" when describing formal or official discussions, especially in professional or academic writing. For informal contexts, consider using simpler alternatives like "they talked" or "we chatted".

Common error

Avoid using "conversation is held" in casual or informal contexts where it can sound stilted or unnatural. Opt for more relaxed phrasing to maintain a conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conversation is held" functions as a passive construction indicating that a discussion or dialogue takes place. It often appears in contexts where the act of conversing is emphasized rather than the participants. Ludwig confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "conversation is held" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to formally describe a discussion or dialogue. Ludwig's analysis of various sources indicates that while the phrase is not very common, it is most frequently found in news and media, formal business contexts and science. When writing, it's best to use "conversation is held" in formal settings and consider alternatives like "a discussion takes place" or "talks are conducted" to avoid sounding stilted in informal settings. The phrase is often used to introduce or set the stage for reporting the details of a discussion, and Ludwig AI confirms it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a discussion takes place

Replaces 'conversation' with 'discussion' and uses the verb 'takes place' for a more general sense of an event occurring.

a dialogue occurs

Substitutes 'conversation' with 'dialogue' and uses 'occurs' which implies a more formal setting.

talks are conducted

Replaces 'conversation' with 'talks' and uses 'conducted', emphasizing a structured or official nature.

discussions are carried out

Uses 'discussions' instead of 'conversation' and 'carried out', which implies a planned or executed discussion.

an exchange is conducted

Emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the conversation as an 'exchange', using 'conducted' to suggest formality.

communications are established

Focuses on the initiation of communication, suitable for describing the start of a dialogue.

a meeting is convened

Indicates a more formal assembly where a conversation is expected to happen.

a consultation is arranged

Implies a more advisory or expert-led conversation.

a negotiation unfolds

Suggests a conversation with the specific purpose of reaching an agreement.

a deliberation ensues

Indicates a thorough and careful discussion, often in a formal setting.

FAQs

How can I use "conversation is held" in a sentence?

You can use "conversation is held" to describe a formal discussion or dialogue. For example: "A "conversation is held" between the managers to discuss the project's progress."

What can I say instead of "conversation is held"?

Alternatives include "a discussion takes place", "talks are conducted", or "discussions are carried out" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "conversation is held" or "conversation was held"?

"Conversation is held" is in the present tense, indicating an ongoing or habitual action, while "conversation was held" is in the past tense, indicating a completed action. Choose the tense based on the context of your sentence.

What's the difference between "conversation is held" and "discussion is held"?

While similar, "conversation" implies a more informal exchange, while "discussion" suggests a more structured and purposeful dialogue. The phrase "discussion is held" is typically used in professional or academic settings.