thread of conversation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thread of conversation" is correct and can be used in both spoken and written English.
It is used to describe an ongoing conversation between two or more people. For example: "We had a lively thread of conversation at the dinner table tonight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Mr. Keating hunted for a thread of conversation.

The New York Times

She had trouble with names and the thread of conversation.

The New Yorker

In trying to transcribe an interview with Christopher Calonje, avid birder and organizer of the Colombian Bird Fair in Cali, I realized how often we broke our thread of conversation because of a bird.

Huffington Post

There's something surprisingly moving, not necessarily in any one thread of conversation, but in the way it begins to click together, the way the lives knit and build so freely, having amassed so much time.

Vice

Hence a continual thread of conversation in the living room that began, "Have you seen these?" Now it was Uncle Herb's turn, and frankly I thought he had already put in more than his share of time with the whole ocean thing.

Huffington Post

However, recordings typically included a logical thread of conversation among two to five students.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The worst side-effect of this was that it was no longer possible to follow the thread of conversations and we didn't want to deny anyone the pleasure of browsing our archive of posts and comments.

The Guardian

(SubReddit is a name for a subject forum where a thread or threads of conversation develop on the site).

The New York Times

Without the shared time, week in and week out, it's hard to find the loose threads of conversation that dangled in the air among us.

The New York Times

Threads of conversation rise from the hubbub: "I mix Vaseline with sulphur and cover my entire body"; "The more you try to prove you're not crazy, the more crazy they think you are"; "The whole medical community is part of this.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In between articles, Promoveo discussion boards are rich threads of conversation about nuanced, ongoing research that can eliminate redundant experiments or inspire new strains of hypothesis testing.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thread of conversation" to indicate an ongoing, connected discussion between individuals or within a group.

Common error

While appropriate in many contexts, overusing "thread of conversation" can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "topic of discussion" or "line of discussion" to vary your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thread of conversation" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the ongoing flow and interconnectedness of a discussion or dialogue. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thread of conversation" is a grammatically sound and meaningful expression used to describe the flow and continuity of a discussion. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its frequency is relatively uncommon. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it is suitable for neutral registers. When writing, consider synonyms to prevent overuse and maintain a varied tone. Remember that alternatives like "line of discussion" or "topic of discussion" can be equally effective depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

line of discussion

Focuses more on the direct sequence of points made.

course of dialogue

Emphasizes the progression and exchange in the interaction.

topic of discussion

Highlights the main subject being talked about.

stream of discourse

Suggests a continuous and flowing exchange of ideas.

subject under discussion

More formal and emphasizes the specific matter being examined.

point of conversation

Emphasizes a specific idea or topic within the broader dialogue.

drift of the talk

Focuses on the overall direction and implication of the conversation.

tenor of the exchange

Highlights the emotional tone and nature of the interaction.

gist of what's being said

Focuses on the main essence or understanding conveyed.

train of thought in discussion

Emphasizes the logical progression and connection of ideas.

FAQs

How can I use "thread of conversation" in a sentence?

You can use "thread of conversation" to describe the flow or topic of a discussion, as in, "They tried to pick up the "thread of conversation" after the interruption".

What can I say instead of "thread of conversation"?

You can use alternatives like "line of discussion", "topic of discussion", or "subject under discussion" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "thread of conversation" or "string of conversation"?

"Thread of conversation" is more common and generally preferred. "String of conversation" is also acceptable but less frequently used. In the provided Ludwig examples, ""thread of conversation"" appears more frequently.

What's the difference between "thread of conversation" and "theme of conversation"?

"Thread of conversation" refers to the ongoing flow and connection of ideas in a discussion, whereas "theme of conversation" refers to the central subject or topic being discussed.