shall we speak

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shall we speak" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting or proposing a conversation or discussion with someone. Example: "If you have some time later, shall we speak about the project details?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Oxford Cento If the sun shines but approximately1 Only where love and need are one, 2 Who in this Bowling Alley bowld the Sun? 3 Of whom shall we speak?

The New York Times

It is true, of course, that Christianity has a history of violence and sexism, as does every other religion in the world, as well as those creeds that call themselves godless -- shall we speak of Stalin's purges or those of Mao?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Shall we dare speak it?

Huffington Post

For example, taking the other guy's example, it could say: "I ask what I am doing wrong/Does he really think that I belong?/He might just need a little time/Then when we speak things shall be fine" It's alright to make the second verse more complicated than the first, and this is a common technique.

WikiHow

We shall organize the statements in each interpretability degree by the relation of being more evident than and we shall speak of the collection of all statements so ordered as the evidentness order.

SEP

Some 20 minutes into a Royal Shakespeare Company performance on Saturday night at the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven during the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Antony Sher, in the title role, intoned the Act I, Scene 5 line "We shall speak no more".

The New York Times

When he pitched this very basic variation on the Golden Rule to staff members, Mr. Sharp says in the book, the reaction was a lot of head-scratching — as though he had arrived at the office one day and announced, "From now on, we shall speak to our guests in riddles, dressed in ponchos".

The New York Times

However, for the sake of simplicity, we shall speak of local loops rather than infinitesimal loops, wherever possible.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

The $\ket{w^j}$ are in fact irrelevant when considering measurements, but they are useful when considering a preparation procedure in which macroscopic apparatus is used to produce a quantum system again we shall speak of it as a particle in some well-defined state.

SEP

"We shall speak to anyone with ideas as to how to effect this package that will help us grow and maximize the present value we can pay to our creditors".

Huffington Post

The recipes in Lulu's Provençal Table were offered by Lulu to Richard to transpose; compose, truly, as Lulu's directions would be, how shall we say, loosely spoken directly from her kitchen stove.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shall we speak" when you want to politely suggest a conversation, especially when seeking consensus or permission. It's suitable for initiating discussions on potentially sensitive topics.

Common error

Avoid using "shall we speak" in very casual conversations. Opt for alternatives like "should we talk" or "can we chat" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shall we speak" functions primarily as an interrogative expression, specifically a suggestion phrased as a question. It is used to initiate a conversation or discussion, often with a polite or formal tone. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shall we speak" is a grammatically sound phrase used to propose a conversation or discussion. While Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct, it's more formal and less frequent compared to alternatives like "should we talk". Primarily found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it's best suited for situations where a polite and deliberate tone is desired. Remember to consider the setting before using "shall we speak", opting for more casual alternatives in informal conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should we talk

Replaces 'shall' with 'should', making it slightly less formal.

should we discuss this

Adds 'discuss this' to make the subject of the conversation more explicit.

would you like to talk

Shifts from a suggestion to a question of preference.

are we going to talk

More direct and implies an expectation of a conversation.

can we chat

Uses 'chat' to indicate a more casual conversation.

shall we converse

Employs the more formal 'converse' instead of 'speak'.

do you want to speak

Directly asks if the other person wants to have a conversation.

shall we have a word

British English alternative, suggesting a brief conversation.

how about we talk

Suggests a conversation with 'how about'.

might we speak

Uses 'might' to make the suggestion more tentative.

FAQs

How can I use "shall we speak" in a sentence?

You can use "shall we speak" to politely propose a conversation, like in the example "If you have some time later, shall we speak about the project details?"

What's a less formal alternative to "shall we speak"?

Alternatives include "should we talk" or "can we chat", which are suitable for casual settings.

When is it appropriate to use "shall we speak"?

It's appropriate when you want to suggest a conversation respectfully, particularly in formal or professional contexts where politeness is valued.

What's the difference between "shall we speak" and "should we speak"?

"Shall we speak" is generally considered more formal and suggests a stronger sense of suggestion or intent, while "should we speak" is slightly less formal and more tentative.