discussion was very

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discussion was very" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the intensity or quality of a discussion, often followed by an adjective to specify what aspect was significant. Example: "The discussion was very enlightening, providing new insights into the topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

I thought the Syria discussion was very interesting.

The New York Times

"Today's discussion was very focused, very serious," he said.

The New York Times

The treasurer, Joe Hockey, who was reported to be one of the senior members to back a plebiscite, said the discussion was "very interesting".

The Guardian

But the subtext of the discussion was very much about today, about Mr. Phieu's reluctance to let Vietnam plunge into a world and a marketplace dominated by American power.

The New York Times

In the subsequent coverage, that discussion was very nearly ignored in favor of Mitt Romney's claim to have hired "binders full of women" as the governor of Massachusetts and the question of what, exactly, the President said about Benghazi in the Rose Garden.

The New Yorker

The timing of the discussion was very apt as it coincided with my poring over the first of a series of social return on investment (SROI) evaluations of my own organisation and trying to make sure in my own mind that I had grasped what SROI actually meant.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The subtext of this discussion is very relevant today.

The Guardian - Opinion

The current discussion is very interesting, and I admire the evenness of your tone and the thoughtfulness of your answers.

The New York Times

"The fact that the word is now been liberated as part of the discussion is very, very healthy," said the mayor.

The Guardian

This journey will require the best and the brightest minds from government and industry, and the fact that Mars is a major topic of discussion is very encouraging".

The Guardian - Tech

"I think that the discussion is very good," Cunningham said as he sat in Kenan Football Center high above the stadium field.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "discussion was very" followed by an adjective to specify what aspect of the discussion was significant, such as "enlightening", "focused", or "insightful".

Common error

Avoid using "discussion was very" without providing context or a specific adjective. Instead of saying "the discussion was very good", specify what made it good, such as "the discussion was very productive because we reached a consensus."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discussion was very" functions as an introductory phrase to describe the quality or characteristic of a discussion. It sets the stage for providing more specific details about the discussion, as seen in Ludwig's examples where it's followed by adjectives like "interesting", "focused", and "positive".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "discussion was very" serves as an introductory phrase, typically followed by an adjective to describe the quality or characteristics of a discussion. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional register. While grammatically sound, it's more impactful to follow it with a descriptive adjective. To enhance clarity and impact, be specific about what made the discussion significant, avoiding overuse of "very" without specific detail.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the discussion proved insightful

Focuses on the outcome of the discussion rather than simply its degree.

the conversation was quite significant

Shifts from "discussion" to "conversation" and emphasizes the importance of the interaction.

the dialogue was remarkably productive

Replaces "discussion" with "dialogue" and highlights the efficiency and output of the conversation.

the exchange was incredibly fruitful

Uses "exchange" instead of "discussion" and focuses on the beneficial results of the interaction.

the debate was particularly lively

Specifies the type of discussion as a "debate" and describes its energetic quality.

the consultation was profoundly helpful

Emphasizes the assistance provided by the consultation.

the deliberation was exceptionally thorough

Highlights the care and attention to detail in the deliberation process.

the discourse was highly engaging

Emphasizes the captivating nature of the discourse.

the negotiation was notably successful

Focuses on the positive outcome of the negotiation.

the conference was extremely informative

Emphasizes the knowledge gained from the conference

FAQs

What can I say instead of "discussion was very interesting"?

You can use alternatives like "discussion was quite interesting", "discussion was extremely interesting", or "discussion was remarkably interesting" depending on the context.

How can I make "discussion was very insightful" sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, consider rephrasing to something like "the discussion proved highly insightful" or "the discussion offered considerable insight into the matter".

Is it grammatically correct to say "the discussion was very"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. However, it's more impactful to follow it with a descriptive adjective that specifies the quality of the discussion. For example, "the discussion was very productive" is more informative than just "the discussion was very".

What's the difference between "the discussion was very good" and "the discussion was excellent"?

"The discussion was excellent" is a stronger statement indicating that the discussion was of exceptionally high quality. "The discussion was very good" implies that the discussion was above average but might lack a specific outstanding quality.