it talking about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it talking about" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to refer to a subject or topic being discussed, but it needs to be rephrased for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Example: "Can you clarify what it is talking about in the article?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

When talking about Donna, Kevin refers to "her" rather than "it," talking about what she does, not what the app's features are.

TechCrunch

Which courts is it talking about?

The Guardian - Opinion

I'm not going to waste it talking about Puffy".

The New Yorker

It is almost to deny it, talking about it.

The New Yorker

But talking about why they had to do it, talking about Mr Smith," he said.

Independent

His people are saying it, talking about intermediaries and all that.

The New York Times

"Be it talking about the university's strategy or event-planning in the union".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

"It talks about the economy, it talks about sociology, it talks about culture".

The New York Times

"It talked about freedoms".

The New York Times - Tech

That's all it talks about lately.

The New York Times

Can it talk about how it works?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, replace the phrase "it talking about" with a grammatically correct alternative such as "it being discussed" or "regarding it" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Avoid using "it talking about" in academic papers or formal reports. While common in speech, it lacks the precision needed for professional contexts. Instead, opt for constructions like "the matter being discussed" or "in reference to it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it talking about" functions as a gerund phrase, attempting to act as a noun. However, it is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with a more appropriate structure. As Ludwig AI points out, it's better to use alternatives like "it being discussed".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it talking about" is frequently used, Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically incorrect in formal English. It's predominantly found in News & Media sources and Academia, indicating a degree of acceptance in less formal contexts. For professional and academic writing, it's advisable to use alternatives such as "it being discussed" or "regarding it" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Remember to adjust your language depending on the context to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it being discussed

Changes the verb form to a passive participle, making it more formal.

it is being talked about

Adds a helping verb to clarify the continuous action.

regarding it

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate the topic.

concerning it

Uses a more formal preposition to indicate the subject.

the matter being discussed

Replaces "it" with "the matter" for more specificity.

the topic under discussion

Emphasizes the formal context of a discussion.

in reference to it

Introduces the topic in a formal and indirect way.

with regard to it

Emphasizes the act of focusing conversation.

it is about

Focuses on specifying the exact essence/arguments of 'it'.

the subject at hand

Highlights a subject that needs focus on a conversation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it talking about" to improve clarity?

To improve clarity, replace "it talking about" with phrases like "it being discussed", "regarding it", or "concerning it", depending on the context. These options provide more formal and precise language.

Is "it talking about" grammatically correct?

No, "it talking about" is not grammatically correct in formal English. It's a colloquial expression. Use more formal alternatives like "it being discussed" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

What's a more professional way to say "it talking about" in a report?

In a report, use phrases such as "the matter being discussed", "the topic under discussion", or "in reference to it" to maintain a professional tone. Avoid informal expressions like "it talking about".

Can I use "it talking about" in academic writing?

It's best to avoid "it talking about" in academic writing. Instead, use precise and formal language such as "it being discussed" or rewrite the sentence for better clarity. This ensures your writing meets academic standards.