had a small conversation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had a small conversation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a brief or casual exchange of dialogue between two or more people. Example: "After the meeting, we had a small conversation about the upcoming project deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"About three weeks ago we had a small conversation," he related on the night of the trade.

The New York Times - Sports

"We had a small conversation and he explained his trailer burnt down and he lost everything including his wife," Kenyatta said.

Huffington Post

If you had a small conversation or subtly flirted, that's great!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We have a small conversation with the patient before starting to mention anything about the medication.

BMJ Open

Sit near them at lunch and have a small conversation.

WikiHow

So, send a friend request on Facebook to that boy you like, or have a small conversation with the person behind the register before moving on to asking someone out, or discussing politics with that person who's on the opposite end of the political spectrum.[10].[10]

WikiHow

He wrote back, and we had a small email conversation in which I tried to persuade him to write another piece for that magazine, but Philip just said that he thought that his retirement would now be uninterrupted.

The Guardian - Film

She said, smiling, "are you from England or Australia?" I explained how I grew up in the U.K. but how we just landed from Sydney and she and I had a small, light conversation.

Huffington Post

It doesn't have to be clever, just a small conversation starter.

Huffington Post

Just give your name and start a small conversation.

WikiHow

Casually approach him and strike up a small conversation.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for brevity in writing, "had a small conversation" is appropriate for depicting casual or unplanned interactions. Consider if the specific context warrants a more descriptive term such as "chat" or "discussion".

Common error

Avoid using "had a small conversation" in formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more precise terms like "conducted a brief interview" or "engaged in preliminary discussions" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a small conversation" functions as a narrative element, describing a past interaction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. Examples show it used to depict casual exchanges, often providing context for subsequent events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

31%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had a small conversation" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to describe a brief, often casual exchange between individuals. Ludwig AI validates its usability in written English. While suitable for various contexts, it's important to consider the level of formality required; for formal settings, alternatives like "engaged in a brief discussion" may be more appropriate. The phrase is frequently found in news media and general writing, as well as wikis. Remember to avoid overuse in contexts demanding precision and detail.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a fleeting conversation

Uses "fleeting" to emphasize the transient nature of the interaction.

had a quick chat

Uses the more informal term "chat" instead of "conversation" and "quick" instead of "small".

had a brief exchange

Emphasizes the short duration and reciprocal nature of the communication.

engaged in brief dialogue

Replaces "conversation" with a more formal term "dialogue" and "had" with "engaged in".

had a short discussion

Replaces "conversation" with "discussion", implying a slightly more structured interaction, while retaining brevity.

spoke briefly

Simplifies the phrase to its core components: speaking and brevity.

had a curtailed discussion

Replaces "small" with "curtailed" to indicate the discussion was cut short or limited.

exchanged a few words

Focuses on the exchange of words, emphasizing brevity.

shared a brief discourse

Uses more formal language ("discourse") to describe a short conversation.

exchanged pleasantries

Highlights the polite and often superficial nature of the interaction.

FAQs

What does "had a small conversation" mean?

The phrase "had a small conversation" means to engage in a brief, often casual exchange of words with someone.

What can I say instead of "had a small conversation"?

You can use alternatives like "had a quick chat", "exchanged a few words", or "had a brief discussion" depending on the context.

Is "had a small conversation" formal or informal?

The phrase "had a small conversation" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. For more formal contexts, consider using "engaged in a brief discussion" or similar phrases.

How to use "had a small conversation" in a sentence?

You can use "had a small conversation" in a sentence like, "After the meeting, we "had a small conversation" about the upcoming project deadlines."