were talking about

USAGE SUMMARY

"were talking about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to refer to a conversation or discussion that has been taking place. For example: "We were talking about the upcoming election earlier."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"People were talking about it.

The New York Times

They were talking about integers.

The New York Times

They were talking about affinage.

The New York Times - Food

Today, they were talking about Machiavelli.

The New Yorker

"You were talking about falling in love.

The New York Times - Magazine

Soon, the Huskies were talking about Georgetown.

The New York Times - Sports

"We were talking about foundations, Clare".

The New Yorker

But we were talking about this.

The New Yorker

But we were talking about capturing asteroids.

The New York Times

Ticket scalpers were talking about "soft sellouts".

The New Yorker

"But we were talking about the Hamptons.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were talking about" to indicate a conversation that happened in the past. Ensure the context clearly identifies who was involved in the conversation and the subject matter.

Common error

Avoid using "were talking about" when referring to a future conversation. Use "will be talking about" or "are going to talk about" instead to indicate a conversation that will happen in the future.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were talking about" functions as a past continuous verb phrase, indicating an ongoing conversation or discussion in the past. It is a common way to introduce the topic or subject of a previous discussion. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were talking about" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to a past conversation, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Primarily found in News & Media, it serves to introduce the topic of a previous discussion, setting the stage for further explanation. While "were talking about" is suitable for most contexts, more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "were discussing". Remember to use the correct tense to avoid confusion, and always ensure clarity about who was involved and what the discussion was about. According to Ludwig, this phrase is widely used and readily understood, making it a valuable tool in your communication arsenal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were discussing

This is a direct synonym, but slightly more formal.

had a conversation about

This alternative is a more explicit and descriptive way to express the same idea.

discussed

This alternative is a more concise and formal synonym.

exchanged views on

This alternative highlights the sharing of opinions and perspectives.

chatted about

This alternative suggests a more casual and informal conversation.

addressed the issue of

This alternative suggests a more formal and deliberate discussion of a problem or concern.

touched on the subject of

This alternative indicates a brief or passing mention of a topic.

deliberated on

This alternative indicates a careful and thorough consideration of a matter.

broached the topic of

This alternative suggests introducing a potentially sensitive or difficult subject.

conversed regarding

This alternative is a formal and slightly old-fashioned way to describe a conversation.

FAQs

How can I use "were talking about" in a sentence?

Use "were talking about" to describe a past conversation. For example, "We "were talking about" the new project yesterday".

What's a more formal alternative to "were talking about"?

A more formal alternative is "were discussing". For example, "We were discussing the budget at the meeting".

Is "were talking about" suitable for professional communication?

Yes, "were talking about" is suitable for professional communication, but it may be better to use "were discussing" in more formal contexts.

What's the difference between "were talking about" and "are talking about"?

"Were talking about" refers to a past conversation, while "are talking about" refers to a present conversation. For example, "We "were talking about" it yesterday," versus "We "are talking about" it now".