decent to talk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decent to talk" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to convey that something is appropriate or acceptable for conversation, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "It's not always decent to talk about personal matters in public."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"It was one of those endless practices and I had no one decent to talk to.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This participant did not find the NN nice to talk to, as she brought bad information, but on the other hand the participant found the NN to be a decent and knowledgeable person.

BMC Health Services Research

They know you've been taught if you come from a decent home not to talk to strangers, especially older men, but you will talk to boys just a bit older than yourself".

Independent

We caught up with Francis at Mad Decent Studios in LA to talk about the origins of Moombahton, and his particular approach to making beats and DJing live, while Diplo grills Francis on what he's been creating while locked away in the studio.

Vice

"And it's not divisive to talk about decent and affordable housing for everyone.

The New York Times

"It's not divisive to talk about decent and affordable health care," he said.

The New York Times

In order to create true, sweeping changes in providing decent housing, we must begin to talk about this human necessity as a basic human right.

The Guardian

On her Facebook page and in leaflets distributed by her students, she argued that no decent Saudi woman should have to talk about bras and panties with a man.

The New Yorker

Steinbeck takes on the dangerous and divisive issue of fair and decent labor; he is unafraid to talk about lousy wages and the abuse of workers or to extol the virtues of unions and strikes.

The New York Times

The think tank report says: "All sides need to commit to ensuring that we have a constructive and decent debate... "Liberals need to talk about the issues that people are most concerned about, like immigration, even if they don't agree with what they're saying.

The Guardian

But in the absence of decent connectivity, people mercifully begin to talk to each other again.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "decent to talk", consider using more grammatically sound alternatives like "appropriate to discuss" or "suitable for conversation" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid directly combining adjectives describing a quality with "to talk". It's generally better to use an adverb or rephrase to create a clearer meaning. Instead of saying "He is decent to talk", try "He is easy to talk to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decent to talk" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, attempting to describe the quality of someone or something in relation to conversation. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not grammatically correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decent to talk" seeks to describe someone or something as agreeable for conversation. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically incorrect. While it appears in various contexts, primarily News & Media and Science, its usage is rare. For clearer and more grammatically sound communication, consider alternatives like "appropriate to discuss" or "easy to talk to". These alternatives ensure your message is conveyed accurately and professionally.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Appropriate to discuss

Emphasizes suitability and relevance for conversation.

Comfortable to talk to

Focuses on the feeling of ease and relaxation in conversation.

Suitable for conversation

Highlights the fitting nature of a topic or person for dialogue.

Easy to communicate with

Highlights the simplicity and clarity of interaction.

Acceptable for discussion

Indicates that the topic meets certain standards of propriety.

Pleasant to converse with

Focuses on the enjoyable aspect of the interaction.

Good to engage with

Focuses on the positive experience of interacting with someone or something.

Agreeable to speak with

Highlights the ease and comfort of speaking with someone.

Worthwhile to discuss

Emphasizes the value and importance of the topic.

Okay to talk about

Suggests permissibility and lack of controversy in the subject matter.

FAQs

How can I use "decent" in a sentence about conversation?

Instead of saying "decent to talk", use constructions like "a decent conversation" or "decent conversational skills". For example, "We had a decent conversation about the new policy".

What is a better phrase than "decent to talk"?

Alternatives include "appropriate to discuss", "easy to talk to", or "comfortable to talk to" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "decent to talk" grammatically correct?

No, "decent to talk" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "appropriate to discuss" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

What does it mean when someone says a person is "decent" to talk to?

It usually implies that the person is easy to communicate with, respectful, and has good conversational manners. Use more precise alternatives such as "approachable" or "respectful".