talks began

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "talks began" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the start of discussions or negotiations between parties. Example: "After weeks of preparation, the talks began on Monday morning, aiming to resolve the ongoing conflict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The ECFA talks began only in January.

The Economist

However, talks began again today.

The Guardian - Business

The latest round of talks began last Saturday.

The New York Times - Sports

Talks began in October in Norway before moving to Cuba.

The New York Times

But even as alliance talks began, things started to improve.

The Economist

He has been remarkably silent since the talks began.

The Guardian

Though talks began well, they soon grew rocky.

The New York Times

He began saying that not long after the talks began.

The New York Times

The talks began Thursday in Pretoria, South Africa.

The New York Times

Since the truce talks began, the violence has not abated.

The New York Times

Neither man made any substantive comment before the talks began.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure that the context clearly identifies who is participating in the "talks" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "talks begin" when referring to a past event. "Talks begin" implies a present or future action, while "talks began" correctly indicates the start of discussions in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "talks began" functions as a verb phrase indicating the initiation of a process of discussion or negotiation. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in written English. This phrase is often followed by information specifying when, where, or between whom the talks occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "talks began" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate the commencement of discussions or negotiations. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase serves to inform audiences about the start of a dialogue, often followed by details specifying the involved parties and the setting. While generally neutral in register, it is important to use the correct tense, ensuring "talks began" refers to past events, rather than the present or future. Alternatives such as "discussions commenced" or "negotiations started" can be used to vary expression while maintaining semantic similarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discussions commenced

Replaces "talks" with "discussions" and "began" with the more formal "commenced".

negotiations started

Substitutes "talks" with "negotiations" and "began" with "started", providing a slightly less formal tone.

dialogue initiated

Replaces "talks" with "dialogue" and "began" with the more formal "initiated".

discussions were initiated

Similar to "discussions commenced", but uses a passive voice.

conversations opened

Substitutes "talks" with "conversations" and "began" with "opened", suggesting a broader range of discussions.

negotiations were launched

Emphasizes the formal start of negotiations.

a dialogue was started

This alternative emphasizes that a conversation has commenced, but uses a passive voice construction.

the parties engaged in discussions

Describes the commencement of talks by emphasizing the involvement of multiple parties.

talks were underway

Indicates that discussions were in progress but does not necessarily specify the exact beginning.

the meeting started

Focuses on the beginning of a meeting, which may or may not involve specific talks or negotiations.

FAQs

How can I use "talks began" in a sentence?

You can use "talks began" to indicate the start of discussions or negotiations between parties. For example, "After weeks of preparation, the "talks began" on Monday morning, aiming to resolve the ongoing conflict."

What are some alternatives to "talks began"?

You can use alternatives like "discussions commenced", "negotiations started", or "dialogue initiated" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "talks begin" instead of "talks began"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "Talks begin" implies a present or future action, while ""talks began"" indicates the start of discussions in the past.

What is the difference between "talks began" and "talks are underway"?

"Talks began" specifies the commencement of discussions, whereas "talks are underway" indicates that discussions are currently in progress, without specifying when they started.