talk about with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "talk about with" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it combines two prepositions that do not work together in this context. Example: "I want to talk about the project with you." (corrected version)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is just another thing to talk about with whoever you're making the decision with".

The New York Times

WHAT does he talk about with the people?

The New York Times

England: plenty to talk about with this one.

Independent

"There's so much to talk about with this movie.

The Guardian - Film

It's not something Ibiza residents talk about with strangers.

The Guardian - Tech

What does someone even talk about with Prince Charles?

The Guardian

That gave her something to talk about with the HRHs.

The Guardian

There's nothing to talk about with the manager [Carlo Ancelotti].

The Guardian - Sport

There are things you cannot talk about with your family..

The Guardian

So it also gave me something to talk about with Afghan women.

The New York Times

The bottom line Happily, the Obamas will have loads to talk about with their royal hosts.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and correctness, replace "talk about with" with simpler and more direct phrases like "discuss with" or "speak with".

Common error

The phrase "talk about with" is grammatically incorrect because it uses both "about" and "with" unnecessarily. Use "talk about" or "talk with" instead, depending on the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "talk about with" attempts to combine the functions of "talk about" (focusing on the topic) and "talk with" (focusing on the person). However, this combination is grammatically incorrect. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase combines prepositions unnecessarily.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "talk about with" appears frequently in various sources, including news articles and scientific papers, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The error stems from the unnecessary combination of "about" and "with". For clear and correct communication, it's best to use alternatives like "discuss with", "speak with", or simply "talk to". Although common, avoiding this phrase will enhance the professionalism and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discuss with

Replaces "talk about with" with a more concise and grammatically correct alternative using a single verb.

talk to

Simplifies the original phrase by removing "about", focusing on direct communication.

speak with

Offers a slightly more formal substitute for "talk", maintaining the same preposition.

speak to

Offers a more formal alternative to "talk to", emphasizing the act of speaking.

chat with

Suggests a more casual and informal conversation.

have a conversation with

Replaces the verb "talk" with a noun phrase, highlighting the exchange of ideas.

consult with

Implies seeking advice or professional opinion during the conversation.

exchange views with

Focuses on the sharing of opinions and perspectives during the discussion.

confer with

Indicates a formal discussion, often involving multiple people.

touch base with

Suggests a brief conversation to update someone or get a quick update.

FAQs

What's grammatically wrong with the phrase "talk about with"?

The phrase combines two prepositions ("about" and "with") where only one is needed. Standard English calls for either "talk about" or "talk with", depending on whether you're emphasizing the topic or the person you're speaking to.

What can I say instead of "talk about with"?

You can use alternatives like "discuss with", "speak with", or simply "talk to" depending on the context.

Is "talk about with" ever correct?

No, "talk about with" is not considered correct in standard written English. It's a common error resulting from combining two separate, correct phrases.

How can I avoid using "talk about with" in my writing?

Pay attention to whether you want to emphasize the subject of the conversation (use "talk about") or the person you're conversing with (use "talk with" or "talk to").