had conversation with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had conversation with" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "had a conversation with." Example: "Yesterday, I had a conversation with my colleague about the upcoming project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Just had conversation with guest who suggested that Listen To The Rhythm Of The Falling Rain was anything but a fabulous song - she placed it in Jason Donovan's mouth (I was horrified).

The Guardian - Sport

"I learned that he said he had conversation with me and I told him everything I said was not true," she said, offering evidence that showed she had spoken with Urick for 34 minutes, rather than the 5 minute conversation he had testified to.

The Guardian

I've already had conversation with some companies who are doing advance computer vision and augmented reality work where they could potentially do interesting things with Google Glass.

TechCrunch

For example, I recently had conversation with the CEO of an airline who told me that the company is not an airline company, per se; it is a technology company with wings.

Forbes

He told me he has had conversation with Peotter who has now agreed to remove the city seal from his website and future email blasts.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Elliott has had conversations with potential lenders.

The New York Times

She had conversations with her serve.

The New York Times - Sports

He had conversations with each pitcher.

The New York Times - Sports

"We've had conversations with him".

The New York Times

I've had conversations with them".

The Guardian - Sport

I've always had conversations with myself.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using simpler alternatives like "spoke with" or "talked with" for clearer and more concise writing.

Common error

Avoid omitting the article "a" before "conversation". The phrase "had conversation with" is grammatically incorrect. Always use "had a conversation with".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had conversation with" functions as a verbal phrase intending to describe an act of communication. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incorrect due to the omission of the article "a" before "conversation".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "had conversation with" appears in some sources, Ludwig AI highlights that it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "had a conversation with". Simpler alternatives such as "spoke with" or "talked with" are often preferable for clarity and conciseness. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid "had conversation with" in formal writing and opt for grammatically sound and more common alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a discussion with

Corrects the original phrase by adding the article "a" for grammatical accuracy.

held a conversation with

Similar to "had a conversation with", but emphasizes the act of holding or conducting the conversation.

spoke with

Replaces "had conversation" with the simpler and more direct "spoke", indicating a less formal interaction.

talked with

Similar to "spoke with", but implies a more casual and extended discussion.

discussed with

Suggests a more formal or structured exchange of information.

had a chat with

Implies a friendly and informal conversation.

conversed with

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "had a conversation with".

communicated with

Indicates any form of interaction, not necessarily verbal.

engaged in conversation with

A more verbose and formal way of saying "had a conversation with".

exchanged words with

Focuses on the act of exchanging information or opinions.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "had conversation with"?

No, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "had a conversation with". You can also use alternatives like "spoke with" or "talked with".

What is a better alternative to "had conversation with"?

More appropriate alternatives include "had a discussion with", ""spoke with"", or ""talked with"", depending on the context and level of formality.

What's the difference between "had conversation with" and "had a conversation with"?

"Had conversation with" is grammatically incorrect due to the missing article "a". "Had a conversation with" is the correct and widely accepted form.

Can I use "had conversation with" in formal writing?

It's best to avoid "had conversation with" in formal writing. Opt for more polished and grammatically sound alternatives such as "had a discussion with" or "conversed with".