they converse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they converse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where two or more people are engaging in conversation or dialogue. Example: "During the meeting, they converse about the project's progress and future plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

The index will grow over time too as it seeks out further connections by analysing the conversations taking place between its initial index of users and those that they converse with.

TechCrunch

Rather, being people on television, they converse.

The New York Times - Magazine

A woman comes by to model shoes while they converse.

The New Yorker

Even though they are bilingual, they converse in English, but they don't see themselves".

The New York Times

When they converse with politically dissident whites, "there is an exchange of silences between strangers".

The New Yorker

A very informative piece, but with one tantalizing fact omitted: in what language do they converse?

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

They conversed with him.

Independent

They conversed in hushed tones and smiled often.

The New York Times - Sports

They conversed for some time before he found out what she wanted.

The New Yorker

Neither had anything in mind, so they conversed… When my brother came home from war.

The New Yorker

Mascara ran down her face as they conversed, but he found it endearing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and audience when choosing between "they converse" and more common alternatives like "they discuss" or "they chat".

Common error

Avoid using "they converse" in informal settings or when describing casual interactions. It can sound out of place and create an unintended sense of distance or pretension. Instead, opt for more relaxed alternatives like "they chat" or "they talk".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they converse" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action performed by a plural subject. It signifies that multiple individuals are engaging in a conversation. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct and well-supported by examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they converse" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of multiple individuals engaging in conversation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and while it's more formal than alternatives like "they talk" or "they chat", it finds frequent use in news and media, leaning towards neutral and formal depending on context. When opting for "they converse", bear in mind that it may sound inappropriate in informal scenarios and settings. For this reason, we suggest that, while it can enrich your speech if well administered, using this phrase to excess may lead to it becoming stale and sounding stilted in your speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they talk

Replaces "converse" with the more common and informal word "talk".

they speak

Substitutes "converse" with "speak", a general term for verbal interaction.

they discuss

Substitutes "converse" with "discuss", implying a more structured or purposeful conversation.

they communicate

Replaces "converse" with "communicate", focusing on the exchange of information.

they chat

Uses "chat" instead of "converse", suggesting a lighter, more casual interaction.

they engage in conversation

Expands the phrase to emphasize the act of participating in a conversation.

they have a dialogue

Replaces "converse" with "have a dialogue", suggesting a more formal or structured exchange.

they hold a conversation

Replaces "converse" with "hold a conversation", a more formal expression.

they exchange words

Focuses on the exchange of words rather than the act of conversing.

they interact verbally

Emphasizes the verbal aspect of their interaction.

FAQs

What does "they converse" mean?

"They converse" means that two or more people are talking or having a conversation, often implying a more formal or thoughtful exchange than simply "talking".

What can I say instead of "they converse"?

You can use alternatives like "they talk", "they discuss", or "they chat" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "they converse" formal or informal?

"They converse" is generally considered more formal than phrases like "they talk" or "they chat". It's suitable for more serious or literary contexts.

How to use "they converse" in a sentence?

You can use "they converse" in sentences like: "As they waited, "they conversed" about their families." or "During the meeting, "they conversed" on project's progress."