popular discourse

USAGE SUMMARY

"popular discourse" is a perfectly valid and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to the public conversations and debates that occur on a particular topic. For example, "The popular discourse surrounding gun control in the United States is often highly divisive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Political disengagement has become a subject of popular discourse.

The Guardian

Popular discourse around this subject needs turning on its head.

The Guardian

Its slogan, "We are the 99 percent" is a staple of the popular discourse.

The New York Times

Popular discourse on abortion in film and television assumes that abortions are under- and misrepresented.

Contraception

This Discourse model appears to have its roots in a popular Discourse of self-actualization.

International Journal of Educational Research

Thousands of books and articles have injected his brand of liberalism into popular discourse.

The New York Times

Public policy clearly needs to lower the temperature before popular discourse metastasises into something ugly.

The Guardian - Opinion

This challenges the popular discourse about so-called "lone wolf" actors becoming radicalised solely through the internet.

Independent

"An examination of certain highly tendentious assertions about both Islam and the Crusades that have entered the popular discourse".

The New York Times

But in the popular discourse, their trauma has gone relatively unrecognised or has been cast as an immigration crisis.

The Guardian

Then Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and with it, speculations about human-caused extreme weather reentered popular discourse.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "popular discourse" to refer to widespread conversations and debates on specific topics, particularly when analyzing trends in public opinion or media representation.

Common error

Avoid using "popular discourse" when you actually mean populist rhetoric. "Popular discourse" refers to general public conversation, whereas populist rhetoric involves specific persuasive techniques used to appeal to the common person.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "popular discourse" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to the prevailing conversation or debate within a society or community, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Academia

31%

Science

29%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "popular discourse" is a noun phrase referring to the prevalent conversations and debates within a society. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. While semantically similar alternatives like "public conversation" or "mainstream discussion" exist, "popular discourse" is particularly useful when analyzing trends in public opinion or media representation. A key writing tip is to avoid confusing it with populist rhetoric, which involves persuasive techniques. Therefore, understanding and appropriately using "popular discourse" enhances clarity and precision in writing about societal trends and public opinion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

public conversation

Focuses on the interactive aspect of the exchange of ideas.

public debate

Emphasizes the argumentative nature of the discussion.

prevailing narrative

Highlights the dominant storyline or perspective.

current dialogue

Stresses the ongoing nature of the exchange.

mainstream discussion

Indicates the widespread nature of the conversation.

common parlance

Refers to the way something is commonly expressed.

general consensus

Highlights the agreement or shared understanding.

widely held belief

Focuses on the beliefs that are commonly accepted.

accepted wisdom

Highlights the ideas that are considered to be established knowledge.

public opinion

Emphasizes the aggregate of individual views.

FAQs

How can I use "popular discourse" in a sentence?

You might say, "The "popular discourse" around climate change is increasingly focused on individual responsibility."

What's a good substitute for "popular discourse"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "public conversation", "prevailing narrative", or "mainstream discussion".

Is "popular discourse" the same as "public opinion"?

No, "popular discourse" refers to the ongoing conversation and debate, while "public opinion" represents the collective attitudes and beliefs of the population.

Where is "popular discourse" commonly used?

You'll often find "popular discourse" used in academic papers, news articles, and social commentary when analyzing cultural trends, political debates, or media representation.