had several discussions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had several discussions" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to multiple conversations or exchanges of ideas that have taken place in the past. Example: "We had several discussions about the project before finalizing our approach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Sather has had several discussions with MacLean's agent, RICK CURRAN.

The New York Times - Sports

DeVarona said she had several discussions with ABC Sports executives about renewing her contract for 1998.

The New York Times - Sports

Ms. Auger told jurors she had several discussions with Mr. Swartz about Mr. Kozlowski's spending.

The New York Times

"The cast and I had several discussions — we wanted this to continue," Mr. Wilson said.

The New York Times

"Mr. Taylor and I had several discussions about the case," Mr. Hon said in an interview.

The New York Times

The U.S.G.A. had had several discussions with Palmer about the issue since last October.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

UCLA Professor Stephan Aron, executive director for the museum, sheepishly told me that no food was allowed in the galleries but they would have several discussions in coming weeks about that subject.

Huffington Post

The discussion content of a meeting has several discussion chunks that have tree structures of utterances as shown in Figure 6. Figure 6 Discussion structure.

Smart Learning Environments

Wyden, who said that he has had "several spirited discussions" with Obama, is not optimistic.

The New Yorker

[cartoon id= a17088"] Wyden, who said that he has had "several spirited discussions" with Obama, is not optimistic.

The New Yorker

The Yankees have had several informal discussions with Close and would prefer to settle with Jeter and avoid another confrontation.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had several discussions" to indicate that multiple conversations took place, especially when the specific details of each conversation aren't as important as the fact that multiple exchanges occurred.

Common error

In formal or academic writing, consider more precise alternatives like "engaged in extensive deliberations" or "conducted a series of consultations" to convey greater nuance and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had several discussions" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the act of participating in multiple conversations. It typically modifies a subject, describing their actions. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had several discussions" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe multiple conversations about a particular topic. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English, though more formal alternatives may be appropriate for specific contexts. As highlighted by the examples, the phrase is frequently found in news and media, scientific publications, and formal business communications. While perfectly acceptable in numerous contexts, consider using more precise language in formal writing to enhance clarity and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

engaged in multiple discussions

Replaces "had" with "engaged in" providing a more active voice.

held a number of discussions

Substitutes "several" with "a number of", maintaining a similar meaning.

conducted various discussions

Uses "conducted" and "various" to convey a slightly more formal tone.

participated in several discussions

Emphasizes involvement in the discussions.

had multiple conversations

Replaces "discussions" with "conversations", indicating a more informal exchange.

exchanged views on several occasions

Focuses on the exchange of views rather than the formal discussion.

conferred on numerous occasions

Implies a more formal and deliberate exchange of information.

debated the matter extensively

Suggests a more argumentative or thorough discussion.

deliberated at length about

Highlights the thoughtfulness and length of the discussions.

thrashed out the details over several meetings

Indicates a detailed and possibly difficult series of discussions.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "had several discussions"?

You can use alternatives like "engaged in multiple discussions", "held a number of discussions", or "conducted various discussions" depending on the context.

Is "had several discussions" formal or informal?

The phrase "had several discussions" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for more formal writing, consider using alternatives such as "engaged in extensive deliberations".

How to use "had several discussions" in a sentence?

You can use "had several discussions" to indicate multiple conversations about a topic. For example: "We "had several discussions" about the project's budget before reaching an agreement."

What is the difference between "had several discussions" and "had many discussions"?

The phrases "had several discussions" and "had many discussions" are very similar in meaning. "Several" implies more than two but not a large number, while "many" implies a large number. The choice depends on the emphasis you want to place on the quantity of discussions.