there was a discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there was a discussion" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could write: "Yesterday, there was a discussion about the new company policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

At every board meeting there was a discussion about the Olympic contract.

The Guardian

At one point there was a discussion of it being used to house the netscape social news assets (they eventually settled on propeller.com).

TechCrunch

At one point there was a discussion about oiling muscles that I will just go ahead and spare you from experiencing.

Huffington Post

There was a discussion about confidentiality.

The New York Times

"Earlier on, there was a discussion: Is this necessary?

The New York Times

"There was a discussion about features and benefits," he said.

The New Yorker

There was a discussion about the "national" curriculum.

The Guardian

"There was a discussion," the senior intelligence official confirmed.

The New Yorker

But however you look at it there was a discussion.

The Guardian

"There was a discussion about where to hang it".

The New York Times

There was a discussion of a prisoner exchange involving captured Lebanese soldiers.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there was a discussion", ensure the context clarifies the topic and participants involved for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "there was a discussion" without specifying what was discussed. Always provide context to make the statement meaningful and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there was a discussion" functions as an introductory expression to indicate that a conversation or exchange of ideas took place. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Reference

5%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there was a discussion" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that a conversation or exchange of ideas occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and the examples show its prevalence across diverse contexts such as news, science, and business. While versatile, ensuring contextual clarity is key to effective use. Alternatives like "there was a debate" or "they had a talk" can offer nuanced variations, depending on the desired tone and specificity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there was a conversation

Uses "conversation" instead of "discussion", offering a more general and informal term.

there was a debate

Replaces "discussion" with "debate", implying a more formal or contentious exchange.

there was a deliberation

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

there was a discourse

Replaces "discussion" with "discourse", indicating a more formal and structured conversation.

they conferred about

Uses "conferred" to mean a formal discussion or consultation.

they had a talk

Changes the sentence structure and uses "talk" to mean discussion, simplifying the language.

a conversation ensued

Replaces the original phrase with a slightly more formal way to describe the start of a conversation.

the matter was discussed

Shifts the focus to the subject being discussed rather than the act of discussing.

the issue was addressed

Indicates that a specific issue was brought up and examined.

the topic came up

Suggests that a topic was introduced and potentially discussed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "there was a discussion" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "there was a deliberation", "there was a discourse", or "they conferred about".

What's a more casual way to say "there was a discussion"?

In a more informal context, you might say "they had a talk" or "the topic came up".

Is it correct to use "there was a discussion about" or "there was a discussion on"?

Both "there was a discussion about" and "there was a discussion on" are grammatically acceptable, but "about" is generally more common and versatile.

What's the difference between "there was a discussion" and "there was a debate"?

"There was a discussion" implies a general exchange of ideas, while "there was a debate" suggests a more structured argument with opposing viewpoints.