we've talked before

USAGE SUMMARY

"we've talked before" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when referring to a previous conversation you may have had with someone or to emphasize the familiarity of the relationship between two people. Example sentence: "We've talked before about our plans for the future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

As defense secretary, we've talked before how you try to describe the financial and economic impact of war and peace to the countries with whom you negotiate.

The New York Times

We've talked before about roulette and about the feeling one sometimes has at the table that one is kind of in tune with the wheel and can do nothing wrong.

The Guardian

We've talked before about where Facebook's money comes from - and explored the somewhat surprising fact that it actually makes money at all, given the fact that many people see it as an unprofitable folly.

The Guardian - Tech

We've talked before about the new administration possibly using Skype internally.

Forbes

We've talked before about how Twitter is using data to push out big changes to small amounts of people and then make judgment calls about whether to implement those updates on a larger scale.

TechCrunch

Talking with you -- we've talked before -- when someone understands what you do and what you make, it disarms you a little bit, and you can just be yourself because you don't have to defend your work..

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

We have talked before about how The Chase is the most frustrating show on television, and this is where it becomes that: stuttering quiz idiots from satellite towns stare down the offer of less money but an easier ride to the final, pause a moment, consult their team and then fucking take it.

Vice

Instead you can just stream them over any number of social video sites we've talked about before.

TechCrunch

As we've talked about before, Moore's law has continued to apply only through the utmost efforts and desperate "cheats" by the engineers who design the chips and the process to create them.

TechCrunch

And as we've talked about before, that's a huge win for publishers who mainly fear these online subscription services because it could mean giving up their all-important rolodex of customer information.

TechCrunch

The two shady-looking guys in the gowns above are Greatest Hits, an outfit we've talked about before.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we've talked before" to establish a sense of familiarity and shared knowledge with your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "we've talked before" excessively, as it can come across as condescending or dismissive. Ensure its use adds value to the conversation, rather than simply stating the obvious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we've talked before" primarily functions as a discourse marker, indicating that the speaker and listener share a prior understanding or have previously discussed the topic. This can serve to establish rapport or provide context for the current conversation. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's acceptability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we've talked before" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI, employed to establish a shared understanding or prior communication between speakers. While not exceedingly common, its presence in diverse contexts, from news to scientific discussions, showcases its versatility. The phrase functions as a discourse marker, streamlining conversations and fostering rapport. For more formal settings, alternatives such as "we've discussed this previously" may be preferable. When using this phrase, be mindful of overuse to avoid sounding condescending. Understanding these nuances will allow for more effective communication across various settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as we've mentioned before

Emphasizes the act of mentioning something previously.

we've discussed this previously

Uses 'discussed' instead of 'talked' and 'previously' for a slightly more formal tone.

we've been over this before

Suggests a more thorough and perhaps repetitive discussion.

this is not the first time we've talked about it

A more emphatic way of stating that the topic has been discussed previously.

we've already covered this

Implies the topic has been addressed and completed, adding a sense of finality.

I believe we've already spoken about this

Adds a personal element ('I believe') and uses 'spoken' as a synonym for 'talked'.

we've communicated about this earlier

Replaces 'talked' with 'communicated', implying a broader range of communication methods.

this has been addressed earlier

Passive voice and 'addressed' create a more formal and detached tone.

we previously spoke of this

Uses the verb 'spoke' with an adverb 'previously' for a more professional construction.

we've touched on this subject before

Indicates a brief or superficial discussion of the topic.

FAQs

How can I use "we've talked before" in a sentence?

You can use "we've talked before" to refer to a previous conversation or to introduce a topic that has been previously discussed, like in this example: "We've talked before about the importance of setting clear goals."

What is a more formal alternative to "we've talked before"?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "we've discussed this previously" or "this has been addressed earlier".

Is "we've talked before" appropriate for professional communication?

Yes, "we've talked before" can be appropriate in professional communication, especially when building rapport. However, be mindful of your audience and the context. In some cases, more formal alternatives might be preferable.

What's the difference between "we've talked before" and "we've been over this before"?

"We've talked before" simply indicates a prior conversation. "We've been over this before" suggests a more thorough or potentially repetitive discussion, implying that the listener should already know the information.