held discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

"held discussion" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in a variety of contexts to refer to a conversation or exchange of information between two or more people. For example: "The meeting participants held a detailed discussion about the new marketing strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He said that Mr. Derwish typically held discussion groups with many young men in attendance and provided pizza and that Mr. Derwish was more effective at relating to young people than the local imam.

The New York Times

The University of Northern Iowa held discussion sessions for students and faculty to talk about the election results and their concerns.

Huffington Post

A working group of epidemiologists, gynaecologists, virologists and statisticians held discussion sessions.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The two have held discussions.

The Guardian

People met up, conferred, held discussions.

The New Yorker

She has held discussions about discussions, meetings about meetings.

The Economist

Both sides in the joint venture have held discussions for years about unwinding it.

The New York Times

On Thursday, top bankers and Mr. Ebersman held discussions on a final price.

The New York Times

Time Warner Cable, the nation's second-largest cable provider, has also held discussions about carrying Revolt.

The New York Times

Siemens reportedly had held discussions with private equity firms about selling its stake.

The New York Times

Clubwomen held discussions and presented essays and speeches on current topics of study.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "held discussion" to describe a formal or organized conversation, especially when emphasizing the act of facilitating or managing the discussion. For less formal conversation consider "had a discussion".

Common error

Avoid using "held discussion" in very informal settings. Simpler phrases like "had a chat" or "talked about" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held discussion" functions as a verb phrase where "held" is the past tense of "hold", and "discussion" is the noun. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "held discussion" is a grammatically sound way to describe a conducted conversation, as confirmed by Ludwig. Although its frequency is relatively low, it appears primarily in news and scientific contexts. When deciding whether to use this phrase, consider the register of your writing; in more formal settings, it is perfectly acceptable, whereas a phrase such as "had a discussion" may be preferable in more casual contexts. Remember that, as the analysis above highlights, other options may better convey the specific nuance intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

held discussions

Plural form, suggesting multiple instances of discussion.

had a discussion

Uses a different verb, 'had', but maintains the same meaning.

conducted a discussion

Replaces "held" with "conducted", implying a more formal or organized discussion.

engaged in discussion

Emphasizes active participation in the discussion.

hosted a discussion

Implies organizing and leading the discussion.

facilitated a discussion

Highlights the role of guiding the discussion.

undertook a dialogue

More formal and emphasizes the exchange of ideas.

convened a meeting for discussion

More elaborate, specifying a meeting's purpose.

carried out deliberations

More formal, suggesting careful and thorough consideration.

exchanged views

Focuses on the act of sharing opinions.

FAQs

What does "held discussion" mean?

The phrase "held discussion" means to have or conduct a conversation or exchange of ideas, often in a formal or structured setting.

What can I say instead of "held discussion"?

You can use alternatives like "had a discussion", "conducted a discussion", or "engaged in discussion" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "hold discussion"?

While grammatically possible in certain constructions (e.g., "We will hold discussion tomorrow"), it's more common and natural to use "have a discussion" or "hold a discussion". The past tense is "held a discussion".

What is the difference between "held discussion" and "held discussions"?

"Held discussion" refers to a single event of discussing something. "Held discussions", on the other hand, implies multiple instances or a series of discussions.