talks were held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "talks were held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe discussions or negotiations that took place between parties, often in a formal context. Example: "After several weeks of negotiations, talks were held to finalize the agreement between the two companies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Informal talks were held on Saturday.

The New York Times

The talks were held alternately in Helsinki & Vienna.

The New Yorker

Crisis talks were held with the team's president.

The Guardian - Sport

Talks were held in Brussels that sought to avert formal consultations at the WTO.

The Economist

And bilateral talks were held in Delhi this week to try to restore calm.

Independent

Talks were held in the aftermath, but no agreement was announced.

The New York Times

Intensive talks were held in the Red Sea resort of Eilat last week.

The New York Times

The Associated Press said preliminary and secret talks were held in Oman and other locations.

The Guardian

To that aim, talks were held with intermediaries for the P.K.K., Mr. Bakhtyar said.

The New York Times

To avoid detection, the talks were held in airport hotels and obscure federal offices.

The New Yorker

The last semisuccessful Somali peace talks were held in 2000 in Djibouti.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on events, use "talks were held" to objectively state that discussions took place, avoiding speculation about their outcome.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive voice in your writing; while "talks were held" is grammatically correct, consider using the active voice to specify who held the talks for greater clarity: "Delegates held talks".

Linguistic Context

Talks were held functions as a passive construction indicating that discussions or negotiations occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is a standard way to report that meetings took place without specifying who initiated or led them, focusing on the event itself.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "talks were held" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to report that discussions or negotiations occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and it frequently appears in news and media contexts. While the phrase itself is neutral in tone, alternative phrases like "negotiations occurred" or "consultations were conducted" can add a more formal touch. When using "talks were held", consider whether the active voice might provide more clarity by specifying who held the talks. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, you can use this phrase effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discussions took place

Replaces "talks" with "discussions" and uses a different verb, but retains the same meaning of a conversation or exchange of ideas happening.

negotiations occurred

Substitutes "talks" with "negotiations", emphasizing the formal and purposeful nature of the discussions, and replacing the verb "held" with "occurred".

meetings transpired

Uses "meetings" instead of "talks" and "transpired" in place of "were held", giving a more formal and slightly less common phrasing.

consultations were conducted

Replaces "talks" with "consultations", highlighting the advisory or expert nature of the discussions, while "were conducted" is a formal alternative to "were held".

dialogues unfolded

Substitutes "talks" with "dialogues", emphasizing the exchange of ideas and opinions, while "unfolded" implies a process of development or revelation.

conferences convened

Uses "conferences" instead of "talks", suggesting larger and more formal meetings, while "convened" indicates the gathering of people for a specific purpose.

summits transpired

Suggests high-level meetings between leaders, substituting "talks" with "summits" to show the high level of importance.

sessions were carried out

Replaces "talks" with "sessions", indicating structured meetings or discussions, and "carried out" is a more active alternative to "were held".

exchanges took place

Uses exchanges to emphasize the interaction and interchange of ideas during the meetings.

deliberations ensued

Emphasizes the careful and thorough discussion of a particular matter, substituting "talks" with "deliberations" to showcase the serious and thoughtful nature of the discussions.

FAQs

What is the difference between "talks were held" and "talks took place"?

Both "talks were held" and "talks took place" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Talks were held" emphasizes the action of organizing and conducting the talks, while "talks took place" simply states that the talks occurred. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference.

How can I use "talks were held" in a sentence?

You can use "talks were held" to report on meetings, negotiations, or discussions that have occurred. For example, "Peace talks were held between the two nations in an attempt to resolve the conflict."

What can I say instead of "talks were held" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use alternatives such as "negotiations occurred", "consultations were conducted", or "deliberations ensued".

Is it better to use active or passive voice when saying "talks were held"?

While "talks were held" is in the passive voice, using the active voice can often provide more clarity. For instance, instead of "Talks were held by the representatives", you could say "The representatives held talks". The active voice is generally more direct and engaging.