societal discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

"societal discussion" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you would like to refer to a broad conversation or debate about a social issue or the state of society. For example: "This societal discussion about the role of technology in education is long overdue."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The darker segments — pontifications on the alienation enabled by telecommunications and the true nature of friendship and love — sometimes fall a little flat, since the troupe doesn't have much original (or particularly eloquent) commentary to add to the societal discussion about such subjects.

The New York Times

Speakers in the ATC series have been and continue to be in the vanguard of critics and innovators in the societal discussion of technology and humanity, with certain issues of Internet user privacy, robot and human interactions, and the dynamic relationship between people and the virtual world being presented at ATC lectures years before becoming topics of popular discussion.

University of California, Berkeley

An informed, societal discussion on visions as well as societal engagement in the visioning processes remains almost entirely absent.

European Journal of Futures Research

The ongoing societal discussion about the authenticity of green energy is an additional comparative advantage for Deltawind.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

She has called for human genome editing to "be on hold pending a broader societal discussion of the scientific and ethical issues surrounding such use".

TechCrunch

The usual reference to broad societal discussion is well intended and sounds correct, but actually merely adds to vagueness on where decisions are made and by whom.

Protein & Cell

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"This café is a living tribute to the intellectual courage, heart, and sacrifice of Mario Savio and those students who stepped forward in 1964 for the rights of students who so desired to be able to participate in societal discussions and actions concerning issues of the day," said Silberstein.

University of California, Berkeley

His aim is that it will "become an international crossroads where society and genomics come together and where societal discussions on genomics are stimulated".

Science Magazine

Recently, Klotz (2015) showed how current South African immigration policy is rooted in a century of state formation and societal discussions over national identity.

Comparative Migration Studies

Steve Anderson argues that "fuck" is an integral part of societal discussions about freedom of speech and censorship.

Wikipedia

The film argues that the word is an integral part of societal discussions about freedom of speech and censorship.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "societal discussion" when you want to emphasize the broad involvement of society in a particular debate or issue. It's effective for highlighting the collective nature of the conversation.

Common error

Avoid using "societal discussion" when referring to smaller, localized debates. Reserve it for issues that truly affect society at large; otherwise, terms like "community dialogue" or "group discussion" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "societal discussion" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a broad dialogue or debate pertinent to society. Ludwig, confirms that the phrase is correctly used in sentences across various fields.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "societal discussion" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term to describe a broad conversation or debate concerning issues relevant to society, as confirmed by Ludwig. Appearing commonly in science, news media, and academia, it emphasizes the collective nature of discourse. While generally neutral, its register leans towards formal due to its prevalence in scholarly and professional contexts. Consider using alternative phrases such as "public debate" or "national conversation" based on context. To enhance clarity, make sure to reserve "societal discussion" for significant topics impacting society at large, while considering terms like "community dialogue" for more localized conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

public debate

Focuses on the aspect of formal argumentation and differing viewpoints within society.

community dialogue

Emphasizes the interactive and collaborative aspect of discussions within a specific community.

national conversation

Highlights the scale of the discussion, indicating it involves the entire nation.

social discourse

A more formal and academic term for societal discussions, often used in sociological contexts.

policy debate

Specifies that the discussion is centered around policies and their implications for society.

public consultation

Highlights that opinions are actively sought from the public on certain matters.

collective deliberation

Emphasizes the thoughtful and careful consideration by a group of people.

civic engagement

Focuses on the active participation of citizens in discussions and decision-making processes.

communal discussion

Similar to community dialogue, emphasizing the shared nature of the discussion within a community.

open forum

Implies a setting or platform that promotes inclusive and unrestricted discussions on societal issues.

FAQs

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

You can use "societal discussion" to refer to important topics such as, "The pandemic has sparked a crucial "societal discussion" about healthcare accessibility", or "There's an ongoing "societal discussion" on climate change and its impact".

What are some alternatives to "societal discussion"?

Alternatives include "public debate", "national conversation", or "social discourse", depending on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "societal discussion" in formal writing?

Yes, "societal discussion" is appropriate for formal writing. It is commonly found in academic, news, and professional contexts. Terms like "social discourse" may sound even more formal.

What's the difference between "societal discussion" and "community discussion"?

"Societal discussion" refers to discussions affecting society at large, while "community discussion" is more localized. For example, a "societal discussion" might involve national healthcare policy, while a "community discussion" might concern local zoning laws.