had a productive discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had a productive discussion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a conversation or meeting that resulted in positive outcomes or valuable insights. Example: "After several hours of brainstorming, we had a productive discussion that led to several actionable ideas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

They issued an unusual joint statement late Thursday, saying, "Senator Clinton and Senator Obama met tonight and had a productive discussion about the important work that needs to be done to succeed in November".

The New York Times

The Qatari organisation responsible for the 2022 Fifa World Cup has said it has had a "productive discussion" with Amnesty International.

BBC

Joel and I had a productive discussion and decided to talk with our team and hear their thoughts about moving to downtown Detroit versus a city in the suburbs.

Forbes

We had a productive discussion about how political correctness is the root of all evil.

Huffington Post

Spokesmen for the two issued identical statements, shorn of partisan bickering, saying the two leaders "had a productive discussion.

Huffington Post

"The Republican leader and I have spent some time together, and I think we've had a productive discussion," Reid said in announcing the truce.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Approach your boss when he or she is in a good place to have a productive discussion.

Forbes

Debating with facts is the only way to have a productive discussion.

Huffington Post

It's unfortunate that we cannot have a productive discussion about women's health without the conversation devolving into accusations of "fat shaming".

Huffington Post

"They were very gracious and supportive and we were able to have a productive discussion about World Nutella Day living on for the fans, which is the whole point," wrote Rosso.

Los Angeles Times

If I can have a productive discussion with one person in a public forum like the comments section on Instagram, then I figure others might be able to learn something.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had a productive discussion" when you want to emphasize that a conversation or meeting resulted in positive outcomes or valuable insights. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "had a productive discussion" is acceptable, avoid overuse. Vary your language by using alternatives like "engaged in a constructive dialogue" or "held a fruitful conversation" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a productive discussion" functions as a declarative statement indicating that a conversation or meeting was beneficial and yielded positive results. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had a productive discussion" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a successful conversation or meeting that yields positive results. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is frequently found in news media and business contexts, indicating a neutral to professional tone. While common, writers should vary their language to avoid overuse. Alternatives such as "held a fruitful conversation" or "engaged in a constructive dialogue" can provide stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

held a fruitful conversation

Replaces 'productive discussion' with 'fruitful conversation', emphasizing positive outcomes.

engaged in a constructive dialogue

Uses 'constructive dialogue' instead of 'productive discussion', highlighting the collaborative aspect.

had a valuable exchange

Substitutes 'productive discussion' with 'valuable exchange', focusing on the worth of the interaction.

conversed effectively

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise expression, stressing efficiency.

communicated successfully

Similar to 'conversed effectively', this highlights positive communication.

held a meaningful consultation

Emphasizes the importance and purpose of the discussion.

had a worthwhile conversation

Highlights the value and benefit derived from the conversation.

enjoyed a synergistic exchange

Focuses on the collaborative and mutually beneficial nature of the interaction.

talked productively

A more concise and straightforward alternative.

achieved consensus through discussion

Highlights the attainment of agreement as a result of the discussion.

FAQs

What does "had a productive discussion" mean?

It means that a conversation or meeting was successful in achieving a desired outcome, resolving an issue, or generating valuable ideas.

What can I say instead of "had a productive discussion"?

You can use alternatives like "held a fruitful conversation", "engaged in a constructive dialogue", or "had a valuable exchange".

How to use "had a productive discussion" in a sentence?

Example: "The senators "had a productive discussion" about the upcoming vote."

Is "had a productive discussion" formal or informal?

"Had a productive discussion" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the overall tone and vocabulary used in the rest of the communication.