were discussing

USAGE SUMMARY

"were discussing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe an ongoing conversation or dialogue between two or more people. Here is an example: John and Sarah were discussing their plans for the weekend when suddenly the power went out.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were discussing slang expressions.

The New Yorker

We were discussing the weather.

Independent

They were discussing bonus caps.

The New York Times

They were discussing politics.

The New Yorker

"We were discussing cricket".

The Guardian - Film

They were discussing Zionism.

The New York Times

"We were discussing the fish," Audie said.

The New Yorker

They were discussing the problems of clergy".

The New Yorker

A trio of Englishmen were discussing cats.

The New Yorker

Two couples were discussing it.

The New Yorker

Other Cardinals were discussing other issues.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were discussing" to indicate an ongoing conversation or a past action of deliberation. Ensure the context clearly identifies the subject being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "were discussing" when the action is happening now; use "are discussing" instead. For example, instead of "We were discussing the project right now", say "We are discussing the project right now".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were discussing" functions as a past continuous verb phrase, indicating an ongoing action in the past. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. Examples show its use in various contexts, from discussing slang expressions to political issues.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were discussing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that serves to describe a conversation or deliberation in progress in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears predominantly in news and media contexts, suitable for neutral registers. For alternative phrasing, consider "were talking about" or "were conversing about", depending on the desired level of formality. Remember to use "were" with plural subjects and ensure accurate tense usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were talking about

Replaces "discussing" with the more general term "talking about", indicating a less formal exchange.

were conversing about

Substitutes "discussing" with "conversing about", implying a slightly more formal and extended conversation.

were deliberating on

Replaces "discussing" with "deliberating on", suggesting a more careful and considered discussion.

were considering

Indicates that the focus was on weighing different options or aspects of a particular topic.

were examining

Suggests a thorough and detailed analysis of the subject matter.

were exploring

Implies an open-ended inquiry into various facets of a topic.

were debating

Indicates a more formal argument or contention about a particular issue.

were negotiating

Suggests a discussion aimed at reaching an agreement or compromise.

were hashing out

An informal way of saying they were working through the details of something.

were hammering out

Implies a vigorous and determined effort to resolve a problem or reach an agreement through discussion.

FAQs

How to use "were discussing" in a sentence?

Use "were discussing" to describe a conversation that was in progress at a specific time in the past. For example: "They "were discussing the weather" when I arrived".

What can I say instead of "were discussing"?

You can use alternatives like "were talking about", "were conversing about", or "were deliberating on depending" depending on the context and formality.

Which is correct, "were discussing" or "was discussing"?

"Were discussing" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "they", "we"), while "was discussing" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "he", "she", "it"). For example, "They "were discussing politics"", but "He "was discussing the issue"".

What's the difference between "were discussing" and "had been discussing"?

"Were discussing" implies a continuous action in the past, while "had been discussing" indicates an action that started in the past and continued until another point in the past. For instance: "We "were discussing the plan" when the phone rang" versus "We "had been discussing the plan" for hours before the phone rang".