touch this topic

USAGE SUMMARY

"touch this topic" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a discussion of or brief introduction to a particular subject. For example, "Before we move on to the next item on our agenda, I'd like to briefly touch this topic of the budget for next year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I am much sought after, but I am not going to touch this topic.

The Guardian

Unfortunately, the methodology oriented literature does rarely touch this topic in a clear manner.

Biology Direct

Steven Pinker of Harvard University opined to me, "The intimidation directed at Bailey will ensure that graduate students, post-docs, and other young researchers will not touch this topic with a ten-foot pole, starving the field of new talent.

Archives of Sexual Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Noting that no other Democratic president had touched this topic, the AMA's leaders heaped praise on Mr Obama after his talk.That was a step forward for his reform efforts, but this week also brought a setback from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

The Economist

Neuroscience touched this topic by investigating the neural correlates of moral judgement and morality [12] [14], primarily assessing decision processes in actual dilemma situations.

Plosone

At this point I have yet to fully discuss what I will be doing in Uganda, so let me take this time to briefly touch upon this topic.

Duke University

Presumably, Sanders would agree with many facets of the Kurdish struggle, yet the Vermont Senator seems reluctant to touch upon this topic.

HuffPost

"It would be crazy to touch this particular topic," said Molly MacDermot, the editor of Twist and M, which, with J-14, are published by Bauer.

The New York Times

(Jeffrey Toobin has also touched on this topic, in his Profile of Ginsburg from earlier this year).

The New Yorker

At Reunions last year, Don Randel '62 *67, a musicologist and the former president of the University of Chicago, gave a sermon in the University Chapel where he touched on this topic.

Princeton University

Certainly this is the advice of The World in 2011, advising the super-rich to avoid public opprobrium in these straitened times by supporting charity…Cassandra has touched on this topic before, and now sees a similar thought from Trendwatching.com, a firm that spots consumer trends and has just come out with "11 crucial consumer trends for 2011" (well worth looking at).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "touch this topic" to signal a light or initial engagement with a subject, leaving room for deeper exploration later.

Common error

Avoid using "touch this topic" if you intend to provide an exhaustive analysis. The phrase implies a superficial examination, so choose stronger verbs like "analyze" or "investigate" for comprehensive treatments.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "touch this topic" functions as a verb phrase used to indicate a brief or initial engagement with a subject. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It signifies that the topic is being addressed lightly, without delving into extensive detail.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "touch this topic" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a brief discussion or mention of a subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s appropriate for various contexts, though more formal options exist for professional settings. Its communicative purpose is to signal a limited engagement with a topic, and it is used somewhat uncommonly, with examples spanning news, science, and academic domains. When writing, ensure the phrase accurately reflects the depth of coverage intended, avoiding its use for in-depth analyses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

address this topic

This alternative is more formal and direct, suggesting a focused engagement with the subject.

discuss this topic

This alternative implies a more in-depth conversation or exchange of ideas about the subject.

mention this topic

This alternative suggests a brief or passing reference to the subject, lacking the depth of discussion.

cover this topic

This alternative suggests a comprehensive exploration of the subject, potentially including different aspects.

explore this topic

This alternative implies a deeper investigation and analysis of the subject matter.

examine this topic

This alternative suggests a careful and detailed inspection of the subject.

consider this topic

This alternative is more reflective, implying contemplation and deliberation of the subject.

delve into this topic

This alternative means to investigate something carefully and thoroughly.

broach this topic

This alternative suggests introducing a sensitive or difficult subject for discussion.

allude to this topic

This alternative is indirect, hinting at the subject without explicitly stating it.

FAQs

What does "touch this topic" mean?

"Touch this topic" means to briefly discuss or mention a subject without going into great detail. It implies a light or initial engagement with the matter at hand.

How can I use "touch this topic" in a sentence?

You might say, "Before moving on, let's just "touch this topic" briefly to acknowledge its relevance."

What can I say instead of "touch this topic"?

You can use alternatives like "address this topic", "mention this topic", or "cover this topic", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "touch this topic" in formal writing?

While "touch this topic" is understandable, more formal alternatives such as "address this topic" or "examine this topic" may be more suitable for academic or professional contexts.