early discussion about

USAGE SUMMARY

This is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about a conversation that happened relatively early, either in a chronological sequence or in the development of a project. For example, "There was an early discussion about expanding into new markets, but the idea was eventually rejected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The Knicks hit 51.5 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, scored a season high in points and ended a two-game skid that prompted some early discussion about an aging defense.

The New York Times - Sports

While such creative-rights issues -- with their whiff of Hollywood ego run amok -- have dominated much of the early discussion about the talks, most believe that, in the end, the economic issues will be decisive.

The New York Times

This verifies the early discussion about the dilemma in determining the STFT frame size: the separation performance is saturated before reaching a sufficient performance level.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

You see that in an early discussion about the escape and with Amirah Vann's Ernestine, the head house slave, who might be the most absorbing character on the show.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Tell me about some of the early discussions about the design.

The New York Times

Others have questioned Pakistan's motivations in detaining Mullah Baradar, who was open to early discussions about peace negotiations.

The New York Times

In the interviews on Sunday, Mr. O'Neill did not describe in depth the early discussions about removing Mr. Hussein from power.

The New York Times

His own quarrel with Thatcher, or hers with him, which had been simmering for a long time, came in 1986 during early discussions about the poll tax.

The Guardian

Did you have early discussions about the culture you wanted? A. We promised each other that we were going to really work hard, and that we would remain friends throughout the process, regardless of what happened.

The New York Times

Along with projects already under way in Scandinavia, there are plans for new interconnectors between Denmark and the Netherlands, and there are early discussions about building an interconnector with Britain, said Anders Eldrup, the chief executive of Dong Energy, the biggest Danish power utility.

The New York Times

Fresh questions have emerged about the Channel 4 documentary Benefits Street after it emerged that the BBC was involved in early discussions about commissioning the controversial series but decided against pursuing it.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "early discussion about", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the discussion pertains to. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "early discussion about" without providing sufficient context. Readers might struggle to grasp the subject if the topic is too vague. Always specify what was discussed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early discussion about" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun. It indicates the timing and nature of a conversation or deliberation regarding a specific subject, as confirmed by Ludwig and its examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "early discussion about" is a grammatically sound and understandable English phrase, as verified by Ludwig. It functions to introduce a topic that was considered at an initial stage, with the communicative purpose of setting the context for subsequent developments or actions. While Ludwig’s examples show that the register is generally neutral, it appears more frequently in contexts related to news media and science. When using "early discussion about", be sure to provide sufficient context to enhance clarity and avoid vagueness. Related alternatives include "initial conversation regarding" and "preliminary consultation concerning".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial conversation regarding

Replaces "discussion" with "conversation" and "about" with "regarding", slightly formalizing the phrase.

initial deliberations regarding

Replaces "discussion" with "deliberations" and "about" with "regarding", suggesting a more formal and serious tone.

preliminary consultation concerning

Substitutes "early discussion" with "preliminary consultation" and "about" with "concerning", suggesting a more formal and professional context.

opening dialogue on

Substitutes "early discussion" with "opening dialogue" and "about" with "on", highlighting the beginning of a conversation.

preliminary exchange regarding

Combines "preliminary exchange" and "regarding" for a slightly more formal feel.

early stage talk on

Replaces "discussion" with "talk" and "about" with "on", making the phrase more informal.

early exchange on

Substitutes "discussion" with "exchange" and "about" with "on", emphasizing a back-and-forth conversation.

early consideration of

Replaces "discussion" with "consideration" and "about" with "of", shifting the focus to the process of thinking something through.

first meeting concerning

Replaces "early discussion" with "first meeting" and "about" with "concerning", focusing on the event rather than the content.

initial assessment of

Replaces "early discussion" with "initial assessment" and "about" with "of", changing the context to an evaluative one.

FAQs

How can I use "early discussion about" in a sentence?

You can use "early discussion about" to introduce a topic that was initially considered or debated. For example, "The project began with an "early discussion about" budget allocation."

What are some alternatives to "early discussion about"?

Alternatives include "initial conversation regarding", "preliminary consultation concerning", or "initial deliberations regarding", depending on the formality you need.

Is it better to say "early discussion on" or "early discussion about"?

"Early discussion about" is generally preferred and more common. While "early discussion on" isn't grammatically incorrect, it's less frequently used in contemporary English.

What's the difference between "early discussion about" and "later discussion about"?

"Early discussion about" refers to the initial stages of a conversation or deliberation, while "later discussion about" implies a follow-up or continuation of the topic at a subsequent time.