talk that we

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "talk that we" is not correct in standard written English and seems incomplete.
It may be used in informal spoken contexts, but it lacks clarity and structure for written communication. Example: "I enjoyed the talk that we had last week about our future plans."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

There had been talk that we might be sending troops in.

The Guardian

There is uplifting talk that we are all in this together.

The Guardian

HOME prices have been rising rapidly, so much so that there is talk that we are entering another national bubble.

The New York Times

This is the sort of grasshopper talk that we ants in the culture of control have little patience with.

The New York Times - Books

I believe both of us wanted to talk, that we had both dreamed of this moment and had been waiting to speak.

Independent

But after this execution we met and started to talk that we don't want to lose anyone more and we started to think about whether we should stop.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

"I can't talk about that; we've already talked about that," he said as he left the clubhouse.

The New York Times

Were not talking about that, we're talking about InfoWars".

Vice

We're not even talking about that, we're talking about a popular show".

Huffington Post

If we have to go out to dinner and talk, that's what we'll do.

The New York Times - Sports

But right now we're not talking about that, we're just showing those two possibilities.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific conversation or discussion, use more precise phrasing such as "the talk we had" or "the discussion we had" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "talk that we" without a verb or preposition to clarify the context. This can lead to ambiguity and grammatical errors. Always complete the sentence for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "talk that we" functions as an incomplete noun phrase, often intended to refer to a conversation, discussion, or presentation. It generally requires additional context to be grammatically correct, which explains the recommendation provided by Ludwig to avoid it.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "talk that we" appears in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI emphasizes that more precise and complete phrasing, such as "the conversation we had" or "what we discussed", is preferable, especially in formal contexts. The phrase's neutral register and relatively uncommon usage suggest caution in its application, with a focus on ensuring clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what we discussed

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the act of discussing something.

the conversation we had

Replaces "talk" with "conversation" and adds "had" to complete the sentence structure for past conversations.

what we spoke about

Similar to "what we discussed", but uses "spoke about" as an alternative to discussing.

the discussion we had

Substitutes "talk" with "discussion", providing a more formal alternative and completes the sentence structure for past discussions.

the chat we had

Replaces "talk" with "chat", creating a more casual alternative and completes the sentence structure for past chats.

the speech we heard

Replaces "talk" with "speech" and uses "heard" to imply attendance or listening to a formal talk.

the lecture we attended

Substitutes "talk" with "lecture" and "attended" for a formal educational context.

the presentation we saw

Replaces "talk" with "presentation" and "saw" to specify viewing a formal presentation.

the words we exchanged

Offers a more abstract and reflective alternative, focusing on the content of the conversation.

the points we addressed

Focuses on the specific issues or points that were covered in the conversation.

FAQs

How can I use "talk that we" correctly in a sentence?

The phrase "talk that we" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Instead, use phrases like "the "conversation we had"" or "what we discussed" for better clarity.

What's a better alternative to "talk that we"?

Alternatives include "the "discussion we had"", "the "presentation we saw"", or "what we spoke about", depending on the specific context you intend to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "talk that we had" or "the talk we had"?

"The "talk we had"" is grammatically correct and more appropriate. The article "the" specifies a particular conversation or discussion.

Can "talk that we" ever be correct?

While uncommon and often grammatically incorrect, "talk that we" might appear in informal speech. However, in formal writing, it is advisable to use a more precise and complete phrase such as "the "words we exchanged"" or "the points we addressed".