talk through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "talk through" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to discuss something in order to better understand it, usually with the help of a third party. For example, "We need to talk through our strategies for the upcoming meeting so that everyone is on the same page."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Talk through your votes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Talk through your dollars.

The Guardian - Opinion

Talk through conflicts.

The New York Times

Let's talk through the intuition.

Yale University

Don't talk through the media".

The New York Times - Sports

They talk through your options".

The Guardian

Talk through the options with them.

The Guardian

This is not something we should have to talk through.

The Economist

"They talk through pictures and sculptures and pieces of music.

The New York Times

Rosenthal and Koons talk through Koons' career and preoccupations.

Independent

"Windchimes are environmental sensor stations that talk through pay phones.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "talk through" when you want to convey a sense of collaboratively understanding a topic or resolving an issue by discussing its different aspects. For example: "Let's "talk through" the project requirements to ensure we're all on the same page."

Common error

Avoid using "talk through" when a simple discussion is adequate. "Talk through" implies a more detailed, step-by-step approach to understanding or solving something. Simply saying "Let's discuss this" is often more appropriate for less complex situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "talk through" functions primarily as a process-oriented verb, indicating a detailed discussion intended to clarify or resolve an issue. Ludwig provides examples where it's used to guide someone step-by-step or to deeply analyze a situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

31%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "talk through" is a versatile tool for expressing detailed discussion aimed at understanding or resolving an issue. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, including news, academia, and general conversation. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide range of contexts. Remember to use "talk through" when a step-by-step, in-depth discussion is intended, rather than as a simple replacement for "discuss". By understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, you can effectively use "talk through" to improve clarity and facilitate problem-solving in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discuss in detail

Focuses on the depth of the discussion, emphasizing thoroughness.

walk someone through

Emphasizes guiding someone step-by-step through a process.

go over in detail

Highlights a comprehensive review of a topic.

explain thoroughly

Stresses the clarity and completeness of the explanation.

reason through

Focuses on the logical process of thinking and discussing.

deliberate on

Suggests careful and lengthy consideration.

hash out

Implies a potentially difficult or contentious discussion.

thrash out

Similar to "hash out" but suggests even more vigorous debate.

review meticulously

Highlights a careful and detailed examination.

break down

Implies simplifying complex information through discussion.

FAQs

How can I use "talk through" in a sentence?

You can use "talk through" to describe discussing something in detail, often to solve a problem or understand a process. For example, "We need to "talk through" the budget before making any decisions."

What's the difference between "talk through" and "discuss"?

"Talk through" suggests a more detailed and step-by-step discussion, often aimed at resolving a problem or understanding something complex. "Discuss" is a more general term for talking about a topic.

What can I say instead of "talk through" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "analyze", "examine", or "deliberate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "talking through" something, or should it always be "talk through"?

Both "talk through", "talks through", "talking through", and "talked through" are correct, depending on the tense and subject of the sentence. For example, "She is "talking through" her options" or "They "talked through" the issue yesterday."