discussion were held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discussion were held" is not correct in written English.
It should be "discussions were held" to indicate that multiple discussions took place. Example: "During the conference, several discussions were held regarding the future of renewable energy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Formal & Business

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In addition, discussion were held with District and Provincial level managers of the Education Department responsible for the reconstruction program.

Unicef

In-depth semi-structured interviews and a natural group discussion were held with national policy-makers, most specifically members of the national commission that selects and updates the country's list.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The discussion was held in a large auditorium, and every seat was taken.

The New Yorker

The most recent discussion was held Jan.

Forbes

The discussion is held under the Chatham House Rule.

TechCrunch

Each observer presented their arguments, and further discussion was held until a consensus was reached.

Progress in Orthodontics

A facilitated online discussion was held on Facebook for the pilot version of the RTI.

European Journal of Futures Research

At that meeting, discussion was held over the appropriate density of routes.

Wikipedia

Before beginning the assay, a brief prelab discussion was held.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Discussion was held to resolve any inappropriate choice of words.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

A major discussion was held on the subject of hierarchy.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to multiple instances of discussions, use the plural form "discussions". Correct the verb conjugation to "discussions were held".

Common error

Avoid using singular nouns with plural verb forms. Ensure that the noun and verb agree in number. For instance, it's correct to say "discussions were held", but incorrect to say "discussion were held".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discussion were held" attempts to describe the occurrence of a conversational exchange, but it does so with incorrect grammar. According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "discussions were held".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "discussion were held" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "discussions were held". Ludwig AI highlights this grammatical issue, emphasizing the importance of noun-verb agreement. While the phrase attempts to convey that conversations or exchanges of ideas took place, its incorrect grammar undermines its effectiveness. Usage spans across Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business contexts, though its frequency is rare. Correcting this phrase and using more appropriate alternatives, such as "a discussion took place" or "discussions occurred", can significantly improve clarity and professionalism. Always ensure the verb agrees with the noun, making sure to not use singular nouns with plural verbs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a discussion took place

Replaces the passive voice construction with an active one, and corrects the verb conjugation.

discussions occurred

Replaces "were held" with "occurred" to provide a different verb choice with a similar meaning.

discussions were conducted

Substitutes "held" with "conducted", emphasizing the act of organizing and managing the discussions.

a meeting was held to discuss

Specifies the context as a meeting and clarifies the purpose of the discussion.

deliberations took place

Uses a more formal term, "deliberations", to refer to the discussions.

conversations were carried out

Replaces "discussions" with "conversations" to describe a less formal exchange of ideas.

negotiations transpired

Implies a more structured and formal discussion focused on reaching an agreement.

exchanges were conducted

Highlights the interactive nature of the discussions, emphasizing the back-and-forth exchange of ideas.

consultations were undertaken

Suggests a more formal and advisory type of discussion.

sessions were convened

Emphasizes the act of formally gathering for discussions.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "discussion were held" in a sentence?

The correct form is "discussions were held", using the plural noun "discussions" to match the plural verb "were". For example, "After the presentation, several "discussions were held" to address the audience's questions".

What is a more formal way to say "discussions were held"?

More formal alternatives include "deliberations took place", "consultations were undertaken", or "negotiations transpired", depending on the context.

What is a simpler way to express "discussions were held"?

Simpler alternatives include "a discussion took place", "discussions occurred", or "conversations were carried out".

Is "discussion was held" ever correct, and if so, in what context?

Yes, "discussion was held" is correct when referring to a single discussion. For example, "A "discussion was held" to resolve the issue".