will touch on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will touch on" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to indicate that a topic will be briefly mentioned or addressed. For example, "The presentation will touch on the key findings of the research." Alternative expressions include "will address," "will mention," and "will cover."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Among the topics she will touch on are the killing of Osama bin Laden and the overthrow of the Qaddafi regime in Libya.

The New York Times

Jeff Richman, author of "Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery: New York's Buried Treasure," will lead a walk that will touch on figures including Boss Tweed and the Steinway family.

The New York Times - Arts

The conversation will touch on points including: What are the challenges for business in identifying child labour in its supply chain?

The Guardian

There are many ways to sell a property and we will touch on each one of those ways here.

WikiHow

We are all aware, too, that the primacy of the General Product Safety Directive has been recognised in one of the recitals, and I will touch on that in a moment.

EU Parlament

The talks with the US will touch on military support.

The Guardian

Other programs will touch on space, genetics, memory and architecture.

The New York Times - Science

Once again, the movie will touch on his own experiences.

The New Yorker

In all probability Prime Minister's Questions tomorrow will touch on little else.But in the long term?

The Economist

It is less clear if the promised changes will touch on those matters.

The New York Times

And that speech will touch on far more than Bin Laden.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "will touch on" when you want to signal that you'll briefly discuss a subject, without delving into deep details. It sets expectations for the reader or listener.

Common error

Avoid using "will touch on" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing seem repetitive and lacking in substance. Vary your language by using synonyms like "will address briefly" or "will mention" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will touch on" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the intention to briefly address a topic. It signals a limited exploration of a subject matter, as demonstrated by the Ludwig examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will touch on" is a commonly used phrase to indicate a brief mention or coverage of a topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. While it's a versatile phrase, it's advisable to avoid overuse and consider alternatives like "will address" or "will mention" to maintain variety in your writing. Remember to use "will touch on" when you want to set the expectation that a topic will be introduced without extensive elaboration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will address

Focuses more on direct handling of the topic rather than a brief mention.

will cover

Emphasizes the scope of the discussion but still implies a comprehensive approach.

will discuss briefly

Explicitly states the limited depth of the discussion.

will mention

Indicates a passing reference to the topic.

will allude to

Suggests an indirect reference or hint to the topic.

will examine briefly

implies a short inspection of the topic

will consider

Suggests giving thought to the topic without necessarily discussing it at length.

will glance at

Implies a very quick and superficial look at the topic.

will graze upon

Suggests a light and cursory examination of the topic.

will dip into

Implies a brief and exploratory engagement with the topic.

FAQs

How can I use "will touch on" in a sentence?

You can use "will touch on" to indicate that a topic will be briefly mentioned or addressed, as in "The presentation "will touch on" the key findings of the research".

What can I say instead of "will touch on"?

You can use alternatives like "will address", "will mention", or "will cover" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "will touch on" and "will cover"?

"Will touch on" suggests a brief overview, while "will cover" implies a more comprehensive examination of the topic.

Is it appropriate to use "will touch on" in formal writing?

Yes, ""will touch on"" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to indicate that a topic will be addressed but not in great detail. However, ensure the tone matches the overall formality of the document.