we previously talked about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we previously talked about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a topic or subject that has been discussed in a prior conversation or communication. Example: "In our last meeting, we previously talked about the new marketing strategy and its potential impact on sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

We previously talked about this project when you announced it almost two years ago.

The New York Times

We previously talked about this initiative you're pushing to take art out of the nightclubs and showcase it in a gallery context.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We had so much fun playing with their colorful and responsive pixel installation Six-Forty by Four-Eighty, which we've previously talked about here, that we decided to bring it to DUMBO to show at our New York event last weekend.

Vice

We have previously talked about the second-order cyclic features for communication signals, and we saw that the carrier frequency features tend to vanish from the SCD plane if the modulation is complex.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Word Lens, the clever printed-text live translator we've previously talked about in App Smart, has been updated.

The New York Times

"The misinformation filters are the same across Facebook that we've previously talked about – downranking clickbait, ratings from third-party fact checkers" they said.

TechCrunch

Because of all of the changes we have previously talked about, companies have to operate differently today, and people have to act like the entrepreneurs of their own careers.

Huffington Post

We have previously talked about differences in immune investment in populations exposed to varied pressures in terms of genetic differences (see Corby-Harris and Promislow 2008).

Evolutionary Applications

I want the LHC to be remembered for something that we have never previously talked about.

The Guardian

Luckily we had funds that people had previously talked about using to buy a house in France for students to use for study trips.

The Guardian

And while Wylonis had previously talked about aiming for a million users by now when last we spoke (this time last year), which was clearly overly optimistic, the team can chalk up lessons learnt about the power of the selfie as an engagement mechanism — giving them one telling metric for doubling down on photo-sharing now.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we previously talked about" to smoothly transition back to a subject that has been introduced earlier in a conversation or document. This helps to maintain continuity and context for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "we previously talked about" too frequently, as it can become repetitive. Instead, vary your language with synonyms like "as we discussed" or "as mentioned earlier" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we previously talked about" serves as a transitional phrase, connecting the current discussion to a past conversation or agreement. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a correct and usable way to refer to prior discussions. It guides the audience to recall earlier points.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

20%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we previously talked about" is a grammatically sound and commonly used way to refer back to prior discussions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and while its register is generally neutral, you can adapt the phrase to fit the context of your audience with options like "as mentioned earlier." The phrase is very common across various sources, particularly in news and media. To avoid redundancy, it's wise to vary your language using synonyms, so you don't repeat "we previously talked about" too many times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as we mentioned before

Highlights a prior statement or remark on the subject.

this has been previously discussed

Passive voice, emphasizing the fact that discussion occurred.

we discussed this before

Uses "discussed" instead of "talked about", implying a more formal conversation.

we addressed this issue before

Specifically refers to a problem or concern that was discussed.

we spoke about this in the past

More general reference to a conversation in the past.

we have already covered this

Emphasizes that the topic has been addressed and completed.

we've already gone over this

Implies a review or explanation of the material.

we touched on this earlier

Suggests a brief or initial discussion of the subject.

this was brought up earlier

Focuses on the act of introducing the topic in the past.

recall our earlier conversation on this

Directly prompts the listener to remember a past discussion.

FAQs

What is a good alternative to "we previously talked about"?

Alternatives include phrases like "we discussed earlier", "as we mentioned before", or "we have already covered this".

How can I use "we previously talked about" in a sentence?

Example: "We previously talked about the budget constraints, so let's explore cost-effective solutions."

Is "we previously talked about" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "as previously discussed".

What's the difference between "we previously talked about" and "we recently talked about"?

"We previously talked about" implies a discussion that happened at some point in the past, while "we recently talked about" specifies that the conversation occurred in the near past.