when we last talked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when we last talked" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a previous conversation or discussion with someone, often to provide context or to remind them of a past interaction. Example: "I wanted to follow up on the project we discussed when we last talked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Renzi put it this way when we last talked: "In Germany, Angela Merkel was forced to have a grand-coalition government.

The New Yorker

"For me, the point is that Italy has come back into the discussion of 'What is Europe?' " he told me, when we last talked.

The New Yorker

TR: When we last talked, you had made an electrode of cobalt oxide, and there were plans to move forward into other materials.

MIT Technology Review

"Advertising at AOL and Time Inc. especially is proving tougher than we expected when we last talked a few months ago," Mr. Bewkes said during the conference call.

The New York Times

But, as before, he assured me, when we last talked here in New York, that the magazine's existence was tolerated by the Chinese authorities and that he would not be in any danger.

The New York Times

When we last talked, there was one thing missing - volume.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

When we we last talked to augmented-reality startup Dekko back in September of last year, the company was building a platform on which it hoped to find developers to build a new generation of applications that blend computing with the real world.

TechCrunch

When we last spoke I talked about a recurring nightmare of an intruder making his way into our bedroom at night, and I sometimes jump out of bed trying to protect my wife.

HuffPost

When we last spoke, you were talking about a move away from small-cap value toward mid-cap value.

Forbes

As Tony said to me when we last spoke: "I've banned all talk of the last 13 years - we just want to look forward and talk about the years to come".

BBC

Judge Telesca said that when he last talked with him, Mr. Smith said that "unfinished business" remained.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when we last talked" to smoothly transition into a topic that has been previously discussed, providing context for the current conversation or written piece.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase in contexts where the conversation is actively ongoing. It's meant to reference a completed, past interaction, not the present one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when we last talked" functions as an introductory clause, providing temporal context by referencing a previous conversation. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to set the stage for further discussion or to remind the listener of a prior agreement or understanding. It is a common way to frame follow-up questions or provide updates.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when we last talked" serves as a temporal marker referencing a previous conversation, commonly used to set the context for ongoing discussions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in News & Media. When using this phrase, it's essential to use it to reference completed, past interactions. Alternatives like "the last time we spoke" or "during our previous conversation" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. Remembering to use the past tense is important to avoid mistakes. Finally, this phrase helps to facilitate smoother and more coherent communication by building upon shared understandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the last time we spoke

More formal and direct, focusing on the act of speaking.

in our previous conversation

More formal and emphasizes the context as a conversation.

when we last spoke

Similar in meaning, but uses "spoke" instead of "talked".

during our last discussion

Focuses on a more formal or structured conversation.

as we discussed previously

Emphasizes the act of discussing something before.

on the occasion of our last conversation

More formal and elaborate.

in a prior conversation

Slightly more general; doesn't specify 'last'.

when we had our last chat

More informal, using "chat".

the other day when we were talking

More casual and less precise about the timeframe.

remember when we talked about

Asks the listener to recall the conversation.

FAQs

How can I use "when we last talked" in a sentence?

You can use "when we last talked" to refer back to a previous conversation to provide context. For example, "When we last talked, we discussed the budget, so I wanted to follow up on that topic".

What's a more formal alternative to "when we last talked"?

A more formal alternative would be "during our previous conversation" or "in our last discussion".

Is it correct to say "when we last speak" instead of "when we last talked"?

No, the correct tense is past tense, so use "when we last spoke" or "when we last talked".

What is the difference between "when we last talked" and "the last time we spoke"?

The phrases "when we last talked" and "the last time we spoke" are largely interchangeable and have the same meaning. The difference is stylistic; the latter is perhaps slightly more direct.