while the discussion was ongoing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "while the discussion was ongoing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurred during the time a discussion was taking place. Example: "While the discussion was ongoing, several new ideas were proposed that changed the direction of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The discussion is ongoing at this HN thread.

TechCrunch

I think the discussion is ongoing, and is only going to be more interesting with time".

Science Magazine

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were ongoing.

The New York Times

The discussions are ongoing".

BBC

Asked whether the motion would be the "full package", Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom said discussion was "ongoing".

BBC

While these discussions were ongoing, practical molecular biology carried on regardless for some 50 years, reasonably comfortable in its tentative reductionism.

BMC Systems Biology

The Welsh government said it is disappointed with the ballot result as pay discussions were ongoing.

BBC

The Welsh government said it was disappointed with the ballot result as pay discussions were ongoing.

BBC

"In respect of Kevin Pietersen, discussions are ongoing," the ECB's statement said.

The Guardian - Sport

The diving classes will be held at a centre near the college, while discussions are ongoing with the Royal Navy to provide further expertise and training.

Independent

While some areas are more difficult than others, discussions are ongoing with member states to find solutions and agree reforms in all four areas outlined in the PM's letter to the European Council president.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "while the discussion was ongoing", ensure that the concurrent action is clearly related to the topic or participants involved in the discussion. This helps maintain coherence in your writing.

Common error

Avoid placing the phrase too far from the subject it modifies, as this can lead to ambiguity. Ensure the reader can easily understand what action was happening concurrently with the discussion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while the discussion was ongoing" functions as a subordinating conjunction introducing a dependent clause. It sets the temporal context for the main clause, indicating that the events described in both clauses occurred simultaneously.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "while the discussion was ongoing" serves to establish a temporal relationship between a discussion and another occurring event. As indicated by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. The phrase is neutral and, although no exact examples were found, the analysis suggest a wide application range in scientific, news and formal business domains. When using this phrase, ensure the accompanying event is clearly related to the discussion to maintain clarity. Alternatives such as "during the discussion" or "as the discussion progressed" can be used to similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the course of the discussion

Replaces "while" with "during the course of", emphasizing the duration of the discussion.

as the discussion progressed

Focuses on the progression of the discussion as the concurrent action occurred.

simultaneous to the discussion

Uses a more formal tone and directly indicates simultaneity.

concurrent with the discussion

Similar to 'simultaneous to', but perhaps slightly less formal.

in the midst of the discussion

Emphasizes that the action happened within the timeline of the discussion.

while the conversation was underway

Substitutes "discussion" with "conversation" and "ongoing" with "underway".

during the active discussion

Highlights the active state of the discussion.

as the talks continued

Replaces "discussion" with "talks" for brevity.

while they were discussing

Simplifies the structure and uses a more direct verb.

throughout the discussion

Indicates the action occurred at various points during the discussion's duration.

FAQs

How can I use "while the discussion was ongoing" in a sentence?

This phrase introduces a clause indicating that an action or event occurred at the same time as a discussion. For example: "While the discussion was ongoing, new proposals emerged".

What is a good alternative to "while the discussion was ongoing"?

You can use alternatives like "during the discussion" or "as the discussion progressed" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "during the discussion that was ongoing" instead of "while the discussion was ongoing"?

While grammatically correct, "during the discussion that was ongoing" is less concise. "While the discussion was ongoing" is often preferred for its brevity and clarity.

What's the difference between "during the discussion" and "while the discussion was ongoing"?

"During the discussion" refers to a specific period, whereas "while the discussion was ongoing" emphasizes the continuous nature of the discussion as another event occurred simultaneously. The latter provides a sense of extended duration.