had a consultation

USAGE SUMMARY

"had a consultation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone had a meeting with someone else to discuss something. For example: "The lawyer had a consultation with the client to finalize the details of the contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

From 1860 to the early 20th century, the AMA had a consultation clause in its code of ethics that members were not allowed to consult with a medical doctor who practiced homeopathy and weren't even allowed to treat a homeopath's patients.

Huffington Post

Krakow came in and had a consultation with Mary.

The New Yorker

When Williamson had a consultation with Ros?, he said something about a vague Jets curse.

The New York Times

Pardon the Interruption I had a consultation with a psychiatrist recently.

The New York Times

The day I visited Dr. Hetzler's office, a local businesswoman named Penny -- energetic and attractive at 56 -- had a consultation.

The New York Times

We had a consultation with a neonatologist who explained what to expect when you're expecting a "preemie".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

On 12 February, I had a consultation with him, when he advised me to take no further action, but keep an eye on the scar.

The Guardian

I had a consultation with Ed Taylor, whose own long tresses (imagine a cross between Cheryl Cole and Johnny Borrell if you will) instantly reassured me.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In December 2013, the website TMZ reported that Jenner had had a consultation for a tracheal shave to reduce her Adam's apple.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

There's a big-breasted mama-analyst named Rose Schwith-Lipkin whom whom I recently had a consultation about whether or not I should leave my current analyst (who isn't, mercifully, in evidence).

The Guardian - Books

Dr. Riley said Liz should have had a consultation before becoming pregnant to provide advice on nutrition and exercise and to urge her to lose excess weight before the pregnancy.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add more precision, specify what action followed the consultation: "After the consultation, we decided to implement the proposed changes".

Common error

Avoid using "had a consultation" without specifying the topic or purpose. Saying "I had a consultation" without context leaves the reader wondering what was discussed or why it was necessary. Be specific about the subject matter or the consultant's expertise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a consultation" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone participated in a meeting with an expert for advice or assessment. As Ludwig AI explained, it signifies a formal discussion or meeting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had a consultation" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe seeking professional advice or assessment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It appears frequently in diverse contexts, including science and news media. To improve clarity, specify the consultant's area of expertise. While the phrase is generally suitable for professional and neutral contexts, precision is key to avoid vague references. Consider related phrases like "consulted with" or "sought advice from" for alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consulted with

Focuses on the action of seeking advice or information from someone.

met with a consultant

Emphasizes the meeting aspect and the role of the person providing the consultation.

sought advice from

Highlights the act of seeking guidance or recommendations.

received counsel from

More formal and emphasizes the wisdom or guidance received.

obtained an assessment from

Focuses on getting a professional evaluation or opinion.

engaged in a discussion with

Broader term, indicating an exchange of information and ideas.

held a meeting with

Neutral term, simply indicating a scheduled meeting.

spoke with an expert

Highlights the expertise of the person providing the consultation.

sought a professional opinion

Emphasizes the professional nature of the advice received.

had a discussion for advice

Indicates a discussion with the specific intention of getting an advice.

FAQs

What does "had a consultation" mean?

The phrase "had a consultation" means that someone met with an expert or professional to seek advice, discuss a problem, or receive an assessment.

What can I say instead of "had a consultation"?

You can use alternatives like "consulted with", "sought advice from", or "met with a consultant" depending on the context.

How formal is the phrase "had a consultation"?

The phrase "had a consultation" is suitable for both neutral and professional contexts. It is not overly formal but maintains a level of professionalism.

Is it better to say "had a consultation with" or "had a consultation from"?

The correct preposition is "with". You "had a consultation with" someone. Saying "had a consultation from" is grammatically incorrect.