this has been discussed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this has been discussed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a topic or issue that has already been talked about in a previous conversation or document. Example: "Regarding the budget proposal, this has been discussed in our last meeting, and we need to finalize our decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This has been discussed in the ' Results and Discussion' section.

BMC Biotechnology

Bradley said, "This has been discussed in the past".

The New York Times - Sports

In the context of scholarly journals, this has been discussed explicitly.

Cornell University

This has been discussed by EU experts and NGOs, but made little impact on the public.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This has been discussed for quite some time," Mr. Robertson told local reporters Wednesday evening.

The New York Times

This has been discussed before as a grand dream for the future.

The Economist

This has been discussed several times over a long period of time.

The New York Times

This has been discussed in terms of release models with the help of SEM analysis.

European Polymer Journal

This has been discussed in this chapter effectively with appropriate examples.

Handbook of Silicon Based MEMS Materials and Technologies

"The US will not cooperate militarily with Iran but their interest in this has been discussed on the sidelines of other communications," said Earnest.

The Guardian

This has been discussed vis-à-vis the more positive surface charge on BLCS compared to SNCLCS.

Electrochimica Acta

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "this has been discussed", provide context or reference to the previous discussion to ensure clarity for the audience. For example, "This has been discussed in our previous meeting on July 15th".

Common error

Do not assume everyone remembers the prior discussion. Instead of vaguely stating "this has been discussed", briefly summarize the key points or specify where the discussion took place. This prevents confusion and keeps everyone on the same page.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this has been discussed" functions as a statement acknowledging a prior conversation or examination of a specific topic. It implies familiarity with the subject matter among the audience. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

59%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this has been discussed" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to indicate that a topic has been previously addressed. It appears frequently in news, scientific, and academic contexts, and according to Ludwig, is widely accepted in English writing. When using this phrase, providing context or referencing the prior discussion is helpful for clarity. While useful for avoiding repetition, it's essential to ensure all participants are familiar with the previous conversation. Alternatives such as "it has already been covered" or "it has been previously mentioned" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has already been covered

Focuses on the completion of addressing the topic, implying it's unnecessary to revisit.

this was brought up earlier

Simple and direct, highlighting the previous occurrence of the topic.

it has been previously mentioned

Emphasizes that the topic was brought up before, without necessarily implying a thorough discussion.

we have addressed this issue

More formal and implies the topic was dealt with in a deliberate and official manner.

the matter was already addressed

More formal and implies that the topic was dealt with and resolved.

this matter came up before

Indicates the topic emerged or arose in a prior conversation or meeting.

the topic has been touched upon

Indicates a brief or superficial discussion, rather than an in-depth exploration.

this topic has been explored

Conveys a sense of investigation and thoroughness in the previous discussion.

we've already gone over this

Suggests a review or reiteration of something already explained, possibly implying impatience.

the subject was under consideration

Implies a deliberate evaluation of the topic in a previous setting.

FAQs

How can I use "this has been discussed" in a sentence?

You can use "this has been discussed" to refer back to a previous conversation or document, indicating that a topic is not new. For example: "Regarding the budget proposal, "this has been discussed" in our last meeting, and we need to finalize our decision."

What can I say instead of "this has been discussed"?

You can use alternatives like "it has already been covered", "it has been previously mentioned", or "the matter was already addressed" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "this has been discussed"?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge that a topic isn't new and has been previously addressed. Use it to avoid unnecessary repetition and to indicate that the conversation is building on prior knowledge. However, always ensure everyone present is aware of the prior discussion.

Is it better to summarize the previous discussion or just say "this has been discussed"?

While ""this has been discussed"" can save time, briefly summarizing the key points of the previous discussion can be more helpful, especially if some participants may not remember the details. A short recap ensures everyone is on the same page.