discuss over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discuss over" is not correct.
In written English, the correct phrase would be "discuss". For example, "Let's discuss the new project at the meeting tomorrow."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

People even seem thrilled to hear him discuss, over and over, the intricacies of his theories about fighting crime.

The New York Times

This year, sadly, I won't get the chance to discuss over breakfast with Bono how to alleviate African poverty, stop in for a nightcap with Tim Geithner, who is leading the American delegation, or cavort on the dance floor at the Google party with the girlfriend of a minor Russian oligarch.

The New Yorker

Let's discuss over country supper soon.

The New York Times

But there's plenty more to discuss over a bottle of pisco.

The Economist

"This is not a one-time issue we discuss over elections.

The Guardian

That star turn was among the topics that Mr. Hoffman declined to discuss over lunch.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"They might fix my site in the short-term but what about all the other sites that are out there for young people, not just sex education sites… who are TalkTalk to say what is allowed and isn't?" The UK Council for Child Internet Safety has a working group to discuss over-blocking.

BBC

It has to be discussed over and over again, in the African tradition.

The New York Times

"It was discussed over and over and an agreement was reached to do it in November, before Salinas left office.

The New York Times

My friends and family were perfectly happy discussing (over and over again) how imperfect he was.

Huffington Post

This is an issue discussed over and over again in the pages of EHP.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the verb "discuss" without the preposition "over" for grammatically correct sentences. For example, instead of "Let's "discuss over" dinner", say "Let's discuss dinner".

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary prepositions after verbs. The verb "discuss" already implies a thorough conversation about a topic, so adding "over" is redundant and grammatically incorrect. Instead of saying "We need to "discuss over" the details", simply say "We need to discuss the details".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discuss over" functions as a verb phrase, but is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct usage involves using "discuss" directly followed by the object of discussion, without the preposition "over".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

34%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "discuss over" appears in a variety of contexts, from news articles to academic papers, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that the correct usage is simply "discuss" followed by the subject matter. Therefore, it's best to avoid using "discuss over" in formal writing and opt for the grammatically sound alternative, or consider using related phrases like "talk about" or "go over" to convey the same meaning with better clarity. While frequently used, remember that correctness trumps frequency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discuss

Removes the preposition "over", correcting the grammatical error.

talk about

Offers a more informal way to express discussing a topic.

go over

Suggests reviewing or examining something in detail.

consider

Implies thinking carefully about something before making a decision.

deliberate on

Suggests a more formal and careful discussion.

hash out

Implies resolving a problem or disagreement through discussion.

negotiate

Suggests discussing something to reach an agreement.

confer

Implies a formal consultation or exchange of views.

debate

Suggests a formal discussion involving opposing viewpoints.

reason about

Focuses on logical thinking and argumentation during the discussion.

FAQs

How to correctly use "discuss" in a sentence?

Use "discuss" followed directly by the topic you're talking about. For example, "Let's discuss the project" is correct, while "Let's "discuss over" the project" is not.

What can I say instead of "discuss over"?

The correct alternative is to use "discuss" without the preposition. You can also use alternatives like "talk about", "go over", or "consider" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "discuss" or "discuss over"?

"Discuss" is the correct form. "Discuss over" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Always use "discuss" followed by the topic of conversation.

Is "discuss over" ever appropriate in English?

No, "discuss over" is generally not considered appropriate in standard English. The verb "discuss" already implies a thorough conversation, making the addition of "over" redundant.