they were talking about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were talking about" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a conversation or discussion that took place in the past tense. Example: "At the dinner party, they were talking about their recent travels to Europe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"That's all they were talking about," she said.

The New Yorker

The young people they were talking about were white.

The New York Times

"That's not what they were talking about!" he said.

Huffington Post

They were talking about integers.

The New York Times

They were talking about affinage.

The New York Times - Food

Today, they were talking about Machiavelli.

The New Yorker

They were talking about a war somewhere.

The New Yorker

They were talking about us".

The Guardian - Music

"They were talking about hair.

The New York Times

"They were talking about Powerball.

The New York Times

"They were talking about kids.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were talking about", ensure the context clearly identifies who "they" refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "they were talking about" without clearly establishing who "they" refers to earlier in the text. Ensure the pronoun has a clear antecedent to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were talking about" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a past discussion or conversation. Ludwig examples show its use in reporting the subject of discussions in various contexts, from personal conversations to formal meetings. The phrase centers on the action of discussing something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were talking about" is a grammatically correct and very common way to report a past conversation or discussion. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and the plentiful examples highlight its widespread use, particularly in news and media. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, writers should ensure clarity by specifying who "they" refers to, and in many cases more concise synonyms like "they discussed" or "they spoke of" can be used to great effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they discussed

A more concise way of saying they were talking about, focusing on the act of discussion.

their conversation revolved around

Emphasizes the central topic of their conversation.

the subject of their discussion was

Highlights the topic being discussed.

they spoke of

A simple and direct alternative to "they were talking about".

they had a conversation concerning

Formally indicates the topic of their conversation.

the focus of their talk was

Emphasizes what their conversation centered on.

they were in the middle of a discussion on

Focuses on the ongoing nature of their discussion.

what they were referring to was

Highlights that they are talking about something specific that needs more context.

they touched on the topic of

Indicates that they briefly mentioned the topic.

they exchanged views regarding

Highlights the exchange of opinions.

FAQs

How can I use "they were talking about" in a sentence?

You can use "they were talking about" to indicate the subject of a past conversation. For example: "At the meeting, "they were talking about" the new marketing strategy".

What is a more concise way to say "they were talking about"?

Alternatives to "they were talking about" include "they discussed" or "they spoke of", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "they discussed" or "they were talking about"?

Both "they discussed" and "they were talking about" are correct. "They discussed" is more concise, while "they were talking about" can imply a more casual or ongoing conversation.

What's the difference between "they were talking about" and "they mentioned"?

"They were talking about" suggests a more in-depth conversation, whereas "they mentioned" indicates a brief reference to the topic.