proceeded to talk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proceeded to talk" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone began to speak or continue a conversation after a previous action or event. Example: "After the meeting concluded, she proceeded to talk about her ideas for the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"He proceeded to talk to me.

The New York Times

Then he proceeded to talk about it.

The New York Times - Sports

Standing across from an empty lectern, Tymoshenko proceeded to talk for the entire ninety minutes.

The New Yorker

He proceeded to talk about being nervous on an airplane that had passengers in "Muslim garb".

The New York Times

When he said, "I sell fossils," the person answered, "You sell faucets?" and proceeded to talk about faucets.

The New Yorker

Kicking off the first of two back-to-back sets, Waters proceeded to talk trash to power for a solid 90 minutes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

"OK," he said, "now I'll give you the commentary," proceeding to talk him through their meanings.

The Guardian - Arts

Subsequently, he turns out to be a psychic, of all things, and proceeds to talk of love, at length, over the closing credits.

The New Yorker

The head of Shine, the UK's largest independent producer, and scion of Rupert, then proceeds to talk openly about her company, ambitions, politics and much else besides.

The Guardian

Hear how the Beetle is sounding?" He apologizes for using an obscenity, and proceeds to talk, in a serious tone now, about providing his extended family member with new tires like mine.

The New Yorker

Rogen is quoted by the Toronto Sun newspaper as saying: "George Lucas sits down and seriously proceeds to talk for around 25 minutes about how he thinks the world is gonna end in the year 2012.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "proceeded to talk" to clearly indicate the sequence of actions, especially when someone starts speaking after an event or another action. For example: "After the presentation, he proceeded to talk about the budget."

Common error

Avoid using "proceeded to talk" when the context already implies that someone is speaking. Redundant phrases can make your writing sound awkward. For example, instead of saying "He stood up and proceeded to talk", simply say "He stood up and talked".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proceeded to talk" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement or continuation of speaking. This is used to show a sequential action, where the act of talking follows a previous event or action, as illustrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Vice

4%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "proceeded to talk" is a common verb phrase used to indicate the start or continuation of speaking after a prior action or event. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in News & Media contexts. While versatile, it is essential to avoid redundancy by ensuring the context doesn't already imply speech. Consider alternatives such as "went on to say" or "began to speak" depending on the desired emphasis. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is generally accepted and readily understood, making it a reliable choice for clear narration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went on to say

Emphasizes the continuation of speech or narration after a specific point.

continued speaking

Focuses on the continuous nature of the speech act.

began to speak

Highlights the initiation of the speech act.

started talking

Similar to "began to speak" but with a more informal tone.

moved on to discuss

Indicates a shift to a new topic within the conversation.

then said

A simple and direct way to indicate the next statement in a sequence.

followed by a discussion of

Highlights that a verbal interaction immediately followed.

chatted about

Implies a casual and friendly conversation.

launched into a monologue

Suggests an extended and uninterrupted speech by one person.

expanded on the subject

Focuses on the act of providing further detail or explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "proceeded to talk" in a sentence?

You can use "proceeded to talk" to show that someone began or continued speaking after something else happened. For example, "After the introduction, the speaker "proceeded to talk" about the benefits of exercise".

What's a more formal alternative to "proceeded to talk"?

A more formal alternative is "went on to say". For example, "Following the opening remarks, the director went on to say that the company had exceeded its targets".

Is there a difference between "began to talk" and "proceeded to talk"?

"Began to talk" implies the very start of a conversation. "Proceeded to talk" suggests the conversation started after a pause or other action. They are similar but not always interchangeable. For instance, "After the applause, the musician "proceeded to talk" about his new album".

What can I say instead of "proceeded to talk"?

You can use alternatives like "continued speaking", "started talking", or "moved on to discuss" depending on the context.