talkative

USAGE SUMMARY

'talkative' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who speaks a lot or enjoys engaging in conversation. For example, "My friend is very talkative and loves telling stories."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What we used to spend on impulse buys – or some of it – then goes on a decent wedge of Lincolnshire Poacher, a couple of fillets of haddock or some good beef, sold to us by smiling, helpful, talkative people whose names we may know, and whose businesses matter both to them and us.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Another persona was "the Hostess", so generous and talkative to the lefty and literary flotsam who crammed into her London flats, when inside she would be crushed from some unwise love affair or other, or just wanting to be alone.

The Economist

Large clocks were used to keep the utterances of talkative shareholders to a minimum.

The Economist

A lively and talkative character, Ms Bohoslovska is clearly delighted with this comparison.Ukraine certainly received a lot of negative coverage before Euro 2012 started.

The Economist

The conservatives, for their part, have been more talkative.

The Economist

If so, polluting firms may pay the owners of such "sinks" handsome sums; in return, they would receive credits to help them meet the emissions standards accompanying the Kyoto treaty.In this section Joystuck A new kind of Boeing Cost free The new alchemy Mannesmann's dogged defender The rise of the sink Togetherness Ivan the talkative ReprintsFarmers are keenly eyeing this market.

The Economist

As a boy Sir Jonathan was a noisy attention-seeker; at school he was a talkative and entertaining wit; as a Cambridge undergraduate he liked to turn heads by walking barefoot through the streets carrying a large marrow.

The Economist

After midday, when the daily qat plane flies in from Ethiopia and Djiboutians start queueing to buy their fix, serious business meetings become impossible.Chewing qat gives a similar high to adrenalin, making the consumer more talkative, alert and sociable.

The Economist

With its bomb-making ability now demonstrated, North Korea may well feel it has little to lose by appearing a little more talkative.

The Economist

It is a measure of Steven Spielberg's mastery of his art that his latest film, "Saving Private Ryan", has reduced even the most talkative of audiences to silence.

The Economist

At his conventional prep school and as a scholar at Eton, the small, talkative, exotic-looking, evidently Jewish Ayer was clearly subjected to a good deal of painful suppression and exclusion.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "talkative", consider the context. Is their talkativeness seen as a positive trait (e.g., friendly and engaging) or a negative one (e.g., excessive and annoying)? Choose synonyms that reflect the intended nuance.

Common error

While "talkative" is generally acceptable, in formal or academic writing, consider using more precise or sophisticated synonyms like "loquacious" or "communicative" to convey a more nuanced meaning and enhance the tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "talkative" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe someone or something characterized by a tendency to talk a lot. As Ludwig AI points out, the word is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

18%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "talkative" functions as an adjective to describe someone who talks a lot, and is considered grammatically correct by Ludwig AI. While generally neutral, context matters when choosing synonyms. It is "very common", appearing frequently in News & Media and Encyclopedias. For more formal contexts, "loquacious" or "communicative" may be preferable. When using "talkative", consider whether the intent is to praise sociability or criticize excessive chatter. Given these factors, "talkative" is a valuable descriptor in diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chatty

Suggests a friendly and informal style of talking.

garrulous

Similar in meaning but often implies excessive talkativeness, sometimes in a rambling way.

gabby

Implies excessive and often trivial talk.

loquacious

A more formal synonym, indicating fluency and ease in speaking.

communicative

Highlights the ability and willingness to communicate effectively.

outspoken

Focuses on expressing opinions directly and honestly, regardless of consequences.

forthcoming

Readily willing to speak; offering information freely when asked.

verbose

Characterized by the use of more words than necessary; can be negative.

long-winded

Similar to verbose but emphasizes the length and tedium of the speech.

effusive

Expressing feelings or gratitude in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.

FAQs

What does it mean to describe someone as "talkative"?

Describing someone as "talkative" means they tend to speak a lot or enjoy engaging in conversation. It can be a neutral observation or carry a slightly negative connotation if the person talks excessively or intrusively.

What can I say instead of "talkative"?

You can use alternatives like "chatty", "loquacious", or "garrulous" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to be "talkative" or "communicative"?

It depends on the context. Being "talkative" focuses on the quantity of speech, while being "communicative" highlights the quality and effectiveness of the communication. A communicative person is generally perceived more positively.

How can I use "talkative" in a sentence?

You can say "She's a very "talkative" person, always ready to strike up a conversation", or "The students became more "talkative" after the icebreaker activity".