discussants

USAGE SUMMARY

'discussants' is a correct word and can be used in written English.
It refers to individuals or participants in a discussion or debate. Example: During the panel discussion, the discussants raised several thought-provoking points and engaged in a lively debate on the topic of climate change.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

He noted the curious link, in most discussions of the case, between the discussants' legal analysis and their political orientation: There are vanishingly few people who believe that the Affordable Care Act was a terrific piece of legislation except that it is unfortunately unconstitutional.

The New Yorker

He noted the curious link, in most discussions of the case, between the discussants' legal analysis and their political orientation: Trump's Lawyers Argue That He Cannot Be Impeached Because He Was Never Actually Elected What Happens When a Bad-Tempered, Distractible Doofus Runs an Empire?

The New Yorker

But it also allows the discussants to exploit divergent meanings to obscure reality... often not deliberately, to be sure, but no less effectively for that.Such exploitation of ambiguity is often dangerous to those who attempt it.

The Economist

At a panel on housing prices, one of the discussants pointed out that housing economics is a field that should be at least as big as finance, given how much it matters to the economy, and yet they don't even have basic models for things like land.

The Economist

Among the discussants are Laar and one of his oldest pals, Mr Bildt, who was Sweden's prime minister when the Soviet Union collapsed.

The Economist

The discussants fitfully remind themselves that she is white — the meek lone white in the room — but when the reader tries to picture her it is hard to come up with anyone paler than Lena Horne or Dorothy Dandridge... Her love for her man, likewise, has no flaw, nor his for her, but for the intruding sour note of segregationist politics.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

These texts typically enumerate, define or classify public discussions, propositions as they are used in public discussions, parts of arguments, qualities which either enhance or detract from a discussant's performance and statements or actions by a discussant which warrant his being considered defeated, including the uttering of various fallacies.

SEP

But he pleases his hosts by highlighting a family connection with Estonia.Next comes a session with Carl Bildt (foreign minister of Sweden, which is not in NATO in theory, but is close to the alliance), Jaak Aviksoo (Estonia's defence minister) and Ivo Daalder, the American permanent representative at NATO, with Bulgaria's new foreign minister, Nikolai Mladenov as a discussant.

The Economist

The paper's discussant at the conference, Evelyn Korn of Germany's University of Marburg, said that her favourite result from the study was that pimps pay "efficiency wages".

The Economist

Jeremy Stein of Harvard University, a discussant of Mr Greenspan's Brookings paper, points out that low policy rates may have mattered a great deal for income-constrained borrowers.

The Economist

The dissent problem can also take another form in which it is not the authority of one of the discussant, but rather the one of the group as a whole that is at stake.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "discussants" when referring to individuals actively participating in a structured or formal discussion, especially where multiple viewpoints are being presented.

Common error

Avoid using "discussants" in casual conversation scenarios. It sounds overly formal; instead, opt for "participants" or "speakers" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "discussants" is as a plural noun. It refers to multiple individuals who are taking part in a discussion. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the term is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "discussants" is a grammatically sound term for describing multiple participants in a discussion, as validated by Ludwig AI. It's most frequently encountered in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, reflecting a neutral to formal register. While correct, it may sound stilted in casual conversation, where alternatives like "participants" are more appropriate. The provided writing guidance emphasizes using it in formal settings, while steering clear of overly informal situations. Related phrases such as "participants in a debate" and "members of a panel" offer similar, yet subtly different, ways to convey the concept. Be mindful of the context to ensure the most suitable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

participants in a debate

This alternative replaces a single word with a phrase that describes the role more explicitly, emphasizing a formal discussion.

members of a panel

This phrase specifies a structured discussion format, implying a more formal setting.

speakers in a conversation

This broadens the context to any form of conversation, potentially less formal than a debate.

those taking part in the discussion

This is a more verbose and descriptive alternative using a relative clause.

contributors to the dialogue

This suggests a more collaborative and less adversarial exchange of ideas.

interlocutors

This is a more formal and academic term for people in a conversation.

conferees

Implies involvement in a conference, which is a more specific context.

commentators

Suggests that the individuals are providing commentary or analysis, which may be a subset of general discussion.

debaters

Specifically refers to individuals engaged in a formal debate, often with opposing viewpoints.

conversationalists

Implies a less structured and more casual exchange of ideas.

FAQs

How do you use "discussants" in a sentence?

The panel of "discussants" explored various perspectives on the economic impact of the new policy.

What's a good substitute for "discussants"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "participants", "speakers", or "panelists".

Is it appropriate to use "discussants" in casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "discussants" is generally more suitable for formal or academic contexts. In casual settings, simpler terms like "people talking" or "participants" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "discussants" and "commentators"?

"Discussants" are general participants in a discussion, whereas "commentators" typically provide analysis or opinions on a specific topic.