had actually discussed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had actually discussed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a conversation or discussion took place in the past, often to emphasize the reality of the discussion. Example: "Before making the decision, we had actually discussed all possible options during our meeting last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Flynn's spokesman says that Flynn had actually discussed sanctions.

The Washington Post

Levy had actually discussed the issue during an earlier Q&A session with journalists, when he said that Facebook is focused on doing "what's right for the people on Facebook".

TechCrunch

But if the two had actually discussed this, it may well have been illegal for them to have done so.

Huffington Post

For each topic, survey questions addressed whether the respondent had wanted to talk with her partner about the topic, and whether she had actually discussed the topic with her partner (e.g. Did you want to talk with your partner about HIV testing? Did you talk to your partner about HIV testing?).

AIDS and Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

What few have actually discussed is that the discussion on the Network Intuitive is about the edge, not the core.

Forbes

"And we've actually discussed Nicomachean Ethics together, de Tocqueville.

The New York Times

And we've actually discussed 'Nicomachean Ethics' together," referring to one of Aristotle's works.

The New York Times

The owners and the union have actually discussed whether the Florida Marlins and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays should be allowed to travel by bus when they play each other.

The New York Times - Sports

"I asked everyone there, 'How many of us sitting in this room have family emergency plans and have actually discussed with our families where they are going to go?"' said Wayne Sandford, deputy commissioner of the State Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

The New York Times

Our Executive Sponsor and his bureau [buy into this LCT model and] they've actually discussed using this model for other issues in their system.

Health & Justice

For example, a PI reported how their criminal justice partner applied the LCT model for promoting other health services: Our Executive Sponsor and his bureau [buy into this LCT model and] they've actually discussed using this model for other issues in their system.

Health & Justice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had actually discussed" to emphasize that a conversation really took place, especially when there might be doubt or denial. This can add weight to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "actually" excessively, as it can make your writing sound repetitive or insincere. If the context already implies that a genuine discussion occurred, the word 'actually' might be redundant. Consider alternatives like 'genuinely' or omitting the word entirely.

Linguistic Context

"Had actually discussed" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action (discussing) that was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had actually discussed" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that emphasizes that a conversation took place in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase follows standard grammar rules. While not overly common, it appears most frequently in news and media, scientific writing and Wiki, serving to highlight the genuineness of prior discussions. When writing, be mindful of overusing 'actually' and consider more concise alternatives if the context already implies the reality of the discussion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had really talked about

Emphasizes the genuineness of the conversation; replaces "actually" with "really".

had genuinely discussed

Highlights the sincerity of the discussion; replaces "actually" with "genuinely".

had in fact discussed

Uses "in fact" to confirm the discussion; a more formal alternative.

had truly discussed

Underscores the authenticity of the discussion; replaces "actually" with "truly".

had openly discussed

Specifies that the discussion was transparent; adds "openly" to describe the discussion's nature.

had previously discussed

Indicates the discussion occurred at an earlier time; replaces "actually" with "previously".

had deliberated

Replaces "discussed" with a more formal term implying careful consideration.

had conferred about

Suggests a formal consultation; uses "conferred" instead of "discussed".

had considered

Implies a thought process beyond just discussion; broader in scope.

had touched on

Indicates a brief discussion; less thorough than "had actually discussed".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had actually discussed" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "had formally discussed", "had officially discussed", or "had deliberated on". These alternatives convey a sense of seriousness and thorough consideration.

What's the difference between "had actually discussed" and "had simply discussed"?

"Had actually discussed" emphasizes the reality or genuineness of the discussion, suggesting it truly occurred. In contrast, "had simply discussed" implies the discussion was basic or introductory, without necessarily leading to any substantial action or agreement. It minimizes the importance of the discussion.

When is it appropriate to use "had actually discussed" instead of "had discussed"?

Use "had actually discussed" when you want to highlight that a discussion definitely happened, especially if there's a reason to believe it might be doubted or denied. It adds emphasis and confirms the occurrence of the conversation. If there is no doubt of the discussion occurring, it's preferable to use "had discussed".

What are some less common synonyms for "had actually discussed"?

Less common synonyms include "had conferred on", "had canvassed", or "had ventilated". These options can add nuance or formality, depending on the context.