legitimate discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "legitimate discussion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a conversation or debate that is valid, reasonable, or worthy of consideration. Example: "The committee held a legitimate discussion about the proposed changes to the policy, allowing all members to voice their opinions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"I think that it's going to be discussed; it's a perfectly legitimate discussion," Cardinal Egan said, replying to a question from the host, Fredric U. Dicker, about whether the church's severe shortage of priests might spur such a change.

The New York Times

It is a perfectly legitimate discussion.

The Guardian - Business

That sounds like a legitimate discussion to have.

The Economist

Does this smack of racism, or is it a fair and legitimate discussion to have?

The New York Times

There is a legitimate discussion to be had about how to balance these competing interests.

The Guardian - Opinion

Senator Kerry responded that the U.S. would accept a legitimate discussion of the Golan Heights.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

The abuse extends to hate-filled and inflammatory comments appended to the online versions of newspaper articles — comments that hijack legitimate discussions of current events and discourage people from participating.

The New York Times

"Talk-show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism," he said, "while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism".

The New York Times

ANDRE M. GORELKIN Roseland, N.J., Nov. 21, 2011 Mr. Wolf confirms what I have experienced all too often when he writes that allowing anonymous or pseudonymous names on Internet commentary sites leads to abusive "comments that hijack legitimate discussions of current events and discourage people from participating".

The New York Times

But his spokesman, Michael Cohen, has risen to the task, accusing Cuban's supporters of being "paid trolls" who were "ruining legitimate discussions", apparently drawing a salary from Cuban: Cuban denied the charges, questioning, as he had with Trump's proposed wall, whether Cohen could provide any logistical details for the process of paying a troll to harass someone on Twitter.

The Guardian

Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "legitimate discussion" when you want to emphasize that a topic or debate is worthy of consideration and adheres to accepted standards of reasoning and evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "legitimate discussion" to describe discussions where there is clear bias or a lack of fair representation of different viewpoints. A truly legitimate discussion requires an open and unbiased approach.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "legitimate discussion" functions as a noun phrase, where "legitimate" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "discussion". Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. It describes a type of conversation or debate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "legitimate discussion" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a conversation or debate that is fair, valid, and worthy of consideration. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts, particularly in news and media and scientific publications. While it can be used in both formal and informal settings, it's most often found in more formal contexts due to its precise nature. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the discussion is genuinely unbiased and presents diverse viewpoints accurately. Alternatives such as "valid debate" or "justifiable discourse" can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

valid debate

Emphasizes the correctness and justification of the debate itself.

justifiable discourse

Highlights that the conversation is warranted and can be defended with reason.

appropriate deliberation

Suggests the discussion is suitable and properly conducted.

reasonable exchange

Focuses on the fairness and rationality of the interaction.

sound conversation

Implies the discussion is well-founded and sensible.

permissible dialogue

Indicates that the dialogue is allowed and within acceptable bounds.

admissible argument

Highlights that the argument is acceptable and worthy of consideration.

defensible conversation

Suggests the conversation can be supported and justified.

well-founded discussion

Emphasizes that the discussion is based on solid evidence or reasoning.

authorized debate

Indicates that the debate has been officially sanctioned or approved.

FAQs

How can I use "legitimate discussion" in a sentence?

You can use "legitimate discussion" to describe a conversation or debate that is fair, valid, and worthy of consideration. For example: "The committee held a "legitimate discussion" about the proposed changes."

What's another way to say "legitimate discussion"?

Alternatives to "legitimate discussion" include "valid debate", "justifiable discourse", or "appropriate deliberation", depending on the specific context.

Is "legitimate discussion" a formal or informal phrase?

"Legitimate discussion" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly used in formal writing and speech, such as news reports or academic papers.

What makes a discussion "legitimate"?

A "legitimate discussion" is characterized by fairness, adherence to evidence-based reasoning, and a genuine effort to consider different perspectives. It avoids bias and personal attacks, focusing instead on reasoned arguments and factual information.