had a speaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had a speaking" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers. A more appropriate phrase would be "had a conversation" or "had a talk." Example: "Yesterday, I had a speaking with my manager about my performance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Towers had a speaking engagement in Oregon, where Brosius lives.

The New York Times

On Day Four I had a speaking part as a zombie bookie in I Spit On Your Rave.

The Guardian - Travel

Some time later, Woollcott who had a speaking acquaintance with him was walking with him on the boardwalk at Atlantic City.

The New Yorker

You know, he actually had a speaking part in 'Boardwalk Empire.' " By midafternoon, the streets were clearing in anticipation of the arrival of Spielberg, who'd spent the morning filming in Manhattan.

The New Yorker

The students in this session had a speaking test, an attractor state.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

In 2016, Arpaio had a speaking role at the Republican National Convention that officially nominated Trump for the presidency.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

On some later occasions, it had a spoken text.

The New Yorker

Can I have a speaking cushion?

The Guardian - Opinion

Hey, she has a speaking part in a Hollywood movie.

The New York Times

The barred owl has a speaking voice as guttural as a dog's.

The New Yorker

In the evenings, Ms. Fleiss often has a speaking engagement or a work-related event.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "had a speaking", opt for more standard English expressions like "gave a speech", "delivered a presentation", or "had a conversation" depending on the context you're trying to convey.

Common error

Avoid using "speaking" as a noun in this context. Instead, use the noun forms "speech", "presentation", or "conversation" which are more grammatically correct and commonly understood. For example, "She had a speech to give" is preferable to "She had a speaking."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a speaking" functions as a noun phrase, though it is not considered standard English. Examples on Ludwig show variable contexts, often relating to formal events or roles, which suggests attempts to use "speaking" as a noun, similar to "speech" or "presentation".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "had a speaking" appears in some contexts, Ludwig AI indicates it is not considered standard English and is best avoided. It attempts to convey that someone delivered a presentation or had a scheduled speaking engagement. Grammatically, it's more accurate and widely accepted to use alternatives such as "gave a speech", "delivered a presentation", or "had a conversation", depending on the intended meaning. While predominantly found in news and media sources, its infrequent use suggests that adopting more conventional phrasing is advisable for clearer and more professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gave a speech

Focuses on the action of delivering a formal address.

held a lecture

Suggests a more academic and structured presentation.

delivered remarks

Implies a formal or official statement.

presented a talk

Emphasizes the act of presenting information to an audience.

addressed the audience

Highlights the act of speaking directly to a group.

made a presentation

Similar to "presented a talk" but can also apply to non-verbal presentations.

had a conversation

Indicates a dialogue rather than a monologue.

had a discussion

Similar to 'had a conversation' but suggests a more in-depth exchange.

engaged in dialogue

Highlights the interactive nature of the communication.

exchanged words

Simply indicates a verbal interaction occurred.

FAQs

What is a more appropriate way to phrase "had a speaking"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "gave a speech", "delivered a presentation", or "had a conversation".

Is the phrase "had a speaking" grammatically correct?

The phrase "had a speaking" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternative phrasing.

When is it appropriate to use the word "speaking"?

The word "speaking" is appropriate as a verb (e.g., "She is speaking now") or as part of a compound noun (e.g., "public speaking"). It is less common and often incorrect as a standalone noun after "had".

What are some alternatives to "had a speaking engagement"?

Instead of "had a speaking engagement", consider using phrases such as "gave a lecture", "delivered a keynote", or "presented at a conference".