the previous discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

"the previous discussion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a discussion or conversation that has already happened. For example, "We had a lot of questions after the previous discussion, so I'd like to go over them again today."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then now let us return to the previous discussion.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The previous discussion assumes that the upper threshold is set to 13 keV.

Harvard University

The first of these problems is already familiar from the previous discussion of the stages of capitalist development.

Britannica

Here's an email from Kevin O'Sullivan, responding to the previous discussion of qualifying regions: I'm not sure why David Hopkins has to have a go at the US.

The Guardian - Sport

As mentioned in the previous discussion, the room temperature performance is shown to be comparable to the state-of-the-art values.

Nature

According to the previous discussion, the effects of precipitation on mortality and fecundity are essentially on the establishment of initial populations in each generation.

Nature

In the previous discussion, we considered a particular case.

Advances in Difference Equations

The previous discussion yields the first of two desired results.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

This is what we can expect from the previous discussion.

Journal of Mathematics in Industry

Summarizing the previous discussion, we have the following result.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

The results verify the previous discussion to some extent.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the previous discussion" to smoothly transition back to a topic already introduced, ensuring clarity and coherence in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "the previous discussion" interchangeably with terms like "the following discussion" as they indicate different points in the text's progression. "The previous discussion" refers to something already covered, while "the following discussion" introduces what's next.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the previous discussion" functions as a determiner phrase acting as a noun adjunct, modifying an implied verb by specifying an action that occurred before. Ludwig AI shows its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

Academia

15%

News & Media

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the previous discussion" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to refer back to earlier points or conversations. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across diverse fields, particularly in science and academia. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, alternative phrases such as "the foregoing discussion" or "the earlier conversation" can be employed depending on the desired tone and context. Be careful to avoid confusion with similar terms like "the following discussion". By following this guide, you can effectively integrate "the previous discussion" into your writing to improve clarity and cohesion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the conversation we had earlier

More explicitly states that the discussion happened earlier.

the earlier conversation

Replaces "discussion" with "conversation", implying a more informal setting.

the preceding exchange

Uses "exchange" to emphasize the interactive nature of the discussion.

what we discussed before

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct statement of prior conversation.

the foregoing conversation

A more formal alternative, using "foregoing" to indicate what came before.

referring back to our conversation

Emphasizes the action of referring back to something already covered.

the prior deliberation

Substitutes "discussion" with "deliberation", suggesting a more careful and considered exchange.

as previously mentioned

Shifts the focus from the event of discussion to the act of mentioning something before.

the initial talk

Replaces "previous" with "initial" and "discussion" with "talk", making it sound less formal.

in light of our past discussion

Sets the context for further comments based on the prior talk.

FAQs

How can I use "the previous discussion" in a sentence?

You can use "the previous discussion" to refer back to a topic that has already been discussed. For example, "As mentioned in "the previous discussion", further research is needed."

What's a more formal way to say "the previous discussion"?

A more formal alternative to "the previous discussion" could be "the foregoing discussion" or "the preceding exchange", depending on the context and the nature of the conversation.

What's the difference between "the previous discussion" and "the earlier discussion"?

While both phrases are similar, "the earlier discussion" might imply a broader timeframe, whereas "the previous discussion" often refers to the immediately preceding conversation or topic. In most contexts, they are interchangeable.

Can I use "the previous discussion" in informal writing?

Yes, "the previous discussion" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very informal settings, you might opt for phrases like "what we talked about before".