talk among themselves

USAGE SUMMARY

"talk among themselves" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a group of people who are discussing something with each other. For example: "The students were encouraged to talk among themselves and come up with a solution to the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They talk among themselves.

The Guardian

So the volunteers talk among themselves.

The Guardian

Others look elsewhere or talk among themselves.

The New York Times

Has he also offered Williams advice on how boxers talk among themselves?

Independent

They talk among themselves and branch off in different directions across the village.

The Guardian

"For us, digital is also about allowing our customers to talk among themselves.

The Guardian - Money

Osakwe's contemporaries talk among themselves about hookups and sex toys, and dress suggestively.

The New Yorker

As they talk among themselves, one of them remembers who she saw it on.

The Guardian

They want to be able to talk among themselves – even if that means going online.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Students talk among themselves about professors all the time," she says.

The New York Times - Magazine

When people talk among themselves, they bring so much contextual awareness to the conversation that answers become obvious.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "talk among themselves", ensure the context clearly indicates who is part of the group engaging in the conversation. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the reader understands the scope of the discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "talk among themselves" when the conversation involves individuals outside of the intended group. This can create confusion and misrepresent the nature of the interaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "talk among themselves" functions as a verb phrase describing a group engaging in conversation internally. It is used to indicate that the communication is occurring within the group, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples of villagers or students engaging in such dialogues.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "talk among themselves" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe internal group discussions. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely used across various contexts, primarily in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates the scope of the group engaging in the conversation. While versatile, alternatives like "discuss internally" or "confer privately" may be more appropriate in formal settings. The phrase's communicative purpose is to convey internal group discussion and it maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for a wide range of writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chatter among themselves

Replaces "talk" with "chatter", suggesting a more casual and informal conversation.

converse privately

Focuses on the private aspect of the conversation, implying a degree of secrecy or discretion.

discuss internally

Highlights that the discussion remains within the group and doesn't involve external parties.

exchange views within the group

Emphasizes the sharing of different perspectives within the group.

hold discussions in private

Similar to 'converse privately', but focuses on the act of holding a discussion.

have a private conversation

A more general way of saying that a private conversation is taking place.

share thoughts within the team

Specifically refers to sharing ideas within a team setting.

bandy ideas around

Suggests a more informal and playful exchange of ideas.

kick around ideas

Similar to 'bandy ideas around', implying an informal and collaborative brainstorming.

huddle and confer

Suggests a close-knit group engaged in a serious discussion or strategizing.

FAQs

How can I use "talk among themselves" in a sentence?

You can use "talk among themselves" to describe a situation where a group of people are having a conversation with each other. For example, "The students were encouraged to talk among themselves about the project."

What's a more formal alternative to "talk among themselves"?

More formal alternatives include "discuss internally", "confer privately", or "exchange views", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "talk among each other" the same as "talk among themselves"?

"Talk among themselves" is generally used when referring to a specific group, while "talk among each other" can be used more broadly. However, in many contexts, they are interchangeable. The choice depends on the specific emphasis you want to convey.

What does it imply when someone says people "talk among themselves"?

It usually implies a conversation is happening within a closed group, possibly suggesting exclusion of others or a private discussion about a particular topic. It can sometimes carry a connotation of secrecy or speculation.