holding discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

"holding discussion" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe an event during which people are discussing a certain topic. For example: "The company held a discussion about new marketing strategies this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Residence hall advisers were holding discussion groups with students in their dormitories.

The New York Times

9.29am BST While Letta was speaking, Berlusconi could be seen holding discussion with some of his allies.

The Guardian - Business

Also in his 20s, and only a year older than Kouachi, Farid Benyettou was working as a cleaner but holding discussion groups in his flat about fighting jihad.

The Guardian

With friends and neighbors, she built a grass-roots organization that was soon holding discussion groups, conducting letter-writing campaigns, picketing stores that sold war toys and gathering signatures on petitions calling for peace.

The New York Times

"We thought, boy, if we could distribute some of those in the stores, it's a quick way — without sitting down and reading a five-page article — a quick way to join the conversation," Mr. Davenport said, adding that he envisioned stores holding discussion nights.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Members of the group were last night holding discussions on whether to resist eviction.

Independent

"We have been holding discussions, not negotiations," Red Bulls General Manager Jerome de Bontin said.

The New York Times - Sports

Already, several candidates have quietly begun taking trips to Iowa and New Hampshire and holding discussions about running.

The New York Times

But Mr. Lévy said his company was not holding discussions with Interpublic.

The New York Times

The Tory rebels, who are holding discussions with the Labour whips, are adamant they can win.

The Guardian

The government is holding discussions with the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the European Central Bank in Dublin.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "holding discussion" when you want to emphasize the act of managing or facilitating a formal discussion event.

Common error

Avoid using "holding discussion" in casual conversation or informal writing. Phrases like "having a chat" or "talking about" are more appropriate in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "holding discussion" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun that describes the activity of conducting or participating in a discussion. It can describe a planned event, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "holding discussion" is a grammatically correct gerund phrase used to describe the act of conducting or participating in an organized discussion. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is valid, although not very frequent. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional register. When writing, consider the formality of your context and whether alternative phrases like "having a discussion" or "conducting a discussion" might be more appropriate for informal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conducting a discussion

Replaces "holding" with "conducting", emphasizing the action of leading a discussion.

having a discussion

Uses "having" instead of "holding", a more common and slightly less formal alternative.

leading a discussion

Focuses on the act of guiding or directing the discussion.

facilitating a discussion

Highlights the role of enabling and supporting the discussion process.

hosting a discussion

Emphasizes the act of organizing and presenting a discussion.

organizing a discussion

Focuses on the planning and structuring of the discussion.

convening a discussion

Implies formally calling together a group for discussion.

undertaking a discussion

Presents the discussion as a formal or significant undertaking.

engaging in discussion

Highlights active participation in a discussion.

participating in a discussion

Focuses on taking part in an existing discussion.

FAQs

What does "holding discussion" mean?

The phrase "holding discussion" means to conduct or facilitate a formal conversation or debate on a specific topic. It implies a structured or organized approach to the exchange of ideas.

What can I say instead of "holding discussion"?

You can use alternatives like "conducting a discussion", "having a discussion", or "leading a discussion", depending on the context.

Is "holding discussion" formal or informal?

The phrase "holding discussion" is generally considered more formal. In informal settings, simpler terms like "talking about" or "chatting about" might be more suitable.

How to use "holding discussion" in a sentence?

Example: "The residence hall advisers were holding discussion groups with students in their dormitories."