hold a brainstorming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold a brainstorming" is not correct in standard English.
The correct expression is "hold a brainstorming session" or simply "brainstorm." Example: "We need to hold a brainstorming session to come up with new ideas for the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

We hold a Brainstorming contest where students must try to come up with the most unique ideas.

Stanford University

Russia and the US have agreed to hold a "brainstorming" meeting on how to find a settlement to the Syrian crisis.

The Guardian

Every six months the investment pros at Bridgewater hold a brainstorming session to identify and prioritize their next research topics.

Forbes

However, whenever I hold a brainstorming session with the purpose of "thinking outside of the box," we instead tend to rehash, reword and build off existing ideas.

Forbes

The two would then hold a brainstorming session with each episode's writer, allowing the writer to script out scenes and dialog.

Wikipedia

Distribute a short survey to gather feedback, or hold a brainstorming session to determine which of these stress management tactics will help your employees untie those knots.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Last year, the Foreign Office held a brainstorming session about how to handle the legacy of still politically sensitive first world war agreements, including Sykes-Picot and Balfour, at a time of unprecedented turmoil in the Middle East.

The Guardian

The team held a brainstorming session with children from the Girls and Boys Club of East L.A., in which designers worked with the kids to create a pod that people can use to live in, work and travel.

Los Angeles Times

All investigative journalists in Ukraine are currently under attack, and have even agreed to hold a joint brainstorming session about how to resist the abuse and fight the problem in a more systemic way.

The Guardian

Mercado said that to keep one another accountable, the members hold a collective brainstorm every Monday night to discuss how projects, events and businesses are coming along.

Los Angeles Times

Now, with the help of your personal computer, you can hold a one-person brainstorming session.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When possible, try using stronger verbs that specify the objective, for example: "conduct", "organize", "have" instead of using "hold".

Common error

A common mistake is to say "hold a brainstorming" which is grammatically incorrect. Remember to always include "session" after "brainstorming" to form a correct phrase, such as "hold a brainstorming session".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold a brainstorming" is intended to function as a verb phrase, describing the action of conducting a brainstorming activity. However, as indicated by Ludwig, it is grammatically incorrect. To function correctly, it should be "hold a brainstorming session".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Academia

19%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Science

12%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the intention behind the phrase "hold a brainstorming" is understandable, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct phrasing is "hold a brainstorming session". This ensures clarity and professionalism in communication. To broaden your options, consider using alternatives such as "conduct a brainstorming session" or simply "brainstorm ideas". Remember to always prioritize grammatical accuracy, especially in formal settings. Even though sources like The New York Times, The Guardian and Forbes are listed, they make use of "hold a brainstorming" with the correct grammar, usually with the word "session" to properly phrase it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold a brainstorming session

Adds the necessary 'session' to make the phrase grammatically correct.

conduct a brainstorming session

Replaces "hold" with "conduct" and adds "session" for grammatical correctness.

organize a brainstorming session

Replaces "hold" with "organize" and adds "session" for grammatical correctness.

have a brainstorming session

Substitutes "hold" for "have" and maintains the correct grammatical structure with "session".

brainstorm ideas

Simplifies the phrase to the core activity of brainstorming, focusing on the generation of ideas.

generate ideas

Focuses on the outcome of the brainstorming activity.

develop solutions

Shifts the focus towards problem-solving and creating solutions.

innovate together

Emphasizes collaborative innovation.

engage in creative thinking

Highlights the process of thinking creatively as a group.

collaboratively ideate

Uses a more formal term, "ideate", to describe the process of generating ideas together.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "hold a brainstorming"?

No, the correct phrase is "hold a brainstorming session". Omitting "session" makes the phrase grammatically incorrect.

What are some alternatives to "hold a brainstorming session"?

Alternatives include "conduct a brainstorming session", "organize a brainstorming session", or simply "brainstorm ideas".

How can I use "hold a brainstorming session" in a sentence?

Example: "The team will hold a brainstorming session to generate new marketing strategies."

What is the difference between "hold a brainstorming" and "hold a brainstorming session"?

"Hold a brainstorming" is grammatically incorrect. The correct and complete phrase is "hold a brainstorming session", which refers to organizing and conducting a meeting to generate ideas.