had a talk

USAGE SUMMARY

"had a talk" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a conversation that has taken place between two or more people. For example: "My brother and I had a talk about our future plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had a talk with Vigneault a week ago and hoped that might change things.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's time we had a talk.

The New Yorker

"I had a talk with my boys.

The Guardian - Sport

"We had a talk," Klopp said.

The Guardian - Sport

Then the men had a talk.

The New York Times

"I had a talk with my boys.

The Guardian - Sport

I just had a talk with them.

The Guardian - Sport

After Chef left, Edna and Wes had a talk.

The New Yorker

Before that he had a talk with Capt.

The New Yorker

Apparently he's had a talk show on FOX all year.

The Economist

"I've had a talk with Robinho," said Hughes.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had a talk", ensure the context makes it clear who participated in the conversation and what the general topic was. For example: "We had a talk about the project's deadlines."

Common error

While "had a talk" is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Opt for more precise alternatives like "conducted a meeting" or "held a discussion" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a talk" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that a conversation or discussion took place. It is a common way to describe the act of conversing, as evidenced by Ludwig's numerous examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had a talk" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe a conversation or discussion. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's best to consider more formal alternatives in academic or highly professional settings. As highlighted by the usage patterns, this phrase frequently appears in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. For increased specificity, add context to clarify the topic and participants of the conversation. Using alternatives such as "held a discussion" or "engaged in conversation" can further refine your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a discussion

Replaces "talk" with a more formal term, implying a more structured conversation.

engaged in conversation

Offers a more descriptive and slightly more formal way to express the act of talking.

held a conversation

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the act of conducting a conversation.

spoke with

A simpler and more direct way to say "had a talk".

conversed with

A more formal alternative, suggesting a thoughtful exchange.

chatted with

Implies a less formal and more casual conversation.

exchanged words with

A more descriptive phrase, highlighting the exchange of information.

communicated with

Focuses on the act of conveying information, rather than the nature of the conversation.

had a meeting

Suggests a more formal, possibly pre-arranged, conversation.

touched base with

Implies a brief conversation to update on progress or check in.

FAQs

What's a more formal alternative to "had a talk"?

For more formal situations, consider using phrases like "held a discussion", "conducted a meeting", or "engaged in conversation".

How can I make my use of "had a talk" more specific?

Add context to specify the topic and participants. For example, "The team had a talk about the new marketing strategy" is more informative than simply "The team had a talk".

Is "had a talk" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "had a talk" is generally too informal for academic writing. Use more formal alternatives like "conducted an analysis" or "presented the findings" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "had a talk" and "had a chat"?

"Had a chat" implies a more casual and informal conversation than "had a talk", which can be used in both informal and slightly more formal settings.