had a small chat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had a small chat" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a conversation that was brief and casual. For example, "Yesterday, Tom and I had a small chat about our plans for the weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We kissed and had a small chat and things began to get physical.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We'll have a small chat about where we need to go, then get on with it.

Independent

Afterward, they had a little chat.

The New York Times - Style

"We had a little chat," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"We had a little chat.

BBC

I was walking up Broadway, and on the corner of West 97th Street, I had a small shoulder collision with a man chatting with a male friend.

The New York Times

I stopped by to have a very small chat in a very large boardroom with McCall Smith about exactly this.

Huffington Post

If Amazon had integrated ChatID, there would be a small 'Chat' button beneath each item listing, that would let you ask questions to representatives of Sony, Samsung, etc.

TechCrunch

The computer donged, a small chat box opening up.

Huffington Post

A small chat window will then appear.

WikiHow

Player moderators have a small silver crown with a black M next to their names in the chat window.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had a small chat" to describe informal conversations that are short and lighthearted, making it suitable for narratives and personal anecdotes.

Common error

Avoid using "had a small chat" in formal or professional settings. Opt for phrases like "had a brief discussion" or "held a concise conversation" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a small chat" functions as a narrative device to describe a brief and casual exchange between individuals. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and commonly used in written English. Examples on Ludwig show its use in describing everyday interactions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had a small chat" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to describe a short, informal conversation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for informal narratives and everyday descriptions. While versatile, it's best to avoid it in formal or academic writing. Instead, opt for alternatives such as "had a brief discussion" to maintain a more professional tone. Its prevalence in news and media outlets indicates its broad acceptance in general communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a brief conversation

Replaces "chat" with a more formal term "conversation" and "small" with "brief", maintaining the meaning of a short discussion.

had a quick talk

Substitutes "chat" with "talk" and "small" with "quick", suggesting a short and informal discussion.

exchanged a few words

Describes a very brief interaction, focusing on the minimal exchange of dialogue.

had a little discussion

Replaces "chat" with "discussion", implying a slightly more structured conversation, and "small" with "little", keeping the sense of brevity.

had a brief exchange

Focuses on the exchange aspect of the conversation, emphasizing its brevity and conciseness.

shared a few remarks

Implies a formal setting where remarks are exchanged briefly.

had a moment of conversation

Highlights the fleeting nature of the conversation.

touched base briefly

Uses business jargon to convey a short check-in or update.

caught up for a moment

Indicates a short, informal conversation to get up to date on recent events.

had a word

Suggests a private and brief conversation, often about something specific.

FAQs

What does "had a small chat" mean?

The phrase "had a small chat" means to have a brief and informal conversation about something.

How can I use "had a small chat" in a sentence?

You can use "had a small chat" in a sentence like, "I "had a small chat" with my neighbor about the weather this morning."

What are some alternatives to "had a small chat"?

Some alternatives to "had a small chat" include "had a brief conversation", "had a quick talk", or "exchanged a few words".

Is "had a small chat" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "had a small chat" is generally not appropriate for formal writing. It is better suited for informal contexts. In formal writing, use phrases like "had a brief discussion".