worth talking to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worth talking to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to someone who is interesting to talk to. Example: After getting to know him better, I found that he was definitely worth talking to.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"They don't consider us worth talking to".

The New York Times

"Because he'd heard that I was someone worth talking to".

The Guardian

"Yes," he replied, "and those who claim the opposite aren't worth talking to about cycling".

The New Yorker

"Based on people's reactions, you kind of know who's worth talking to".

The New Yorker

"We can talk," it replies, when there's anybody worth talking to".

The Guardian - Books

Teammates are worth talking to and telling them what you went through and what really happened".

The New York Times - Sports

I'm either ghostproof or they didn't think I was worth talking to.

The Guardian - Books

Go to any party and you see that: I just don't think you're worth talking to.

The Guardian - Film

Pegida's specific demands are unclear, because supporters believe the media is a politically correct conspiracy not worth talking to.

The Economist

The venomous media voices who think no Muslim is worth talking to Which is why I was surprised to read that Bunting thinks I am a "venomous media voice who thinks no Muslim is worth talking to".

The Guardian - Opinion

"There was also no sense among corporate or political decision makers that our community was important or worth talking to".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When deciding if someone is "worth talking to", consider the potential for mutual learning, shared interests, or the opportunity to gain a new perspective. Don't base your decision solely on superficial factors.

Common error

Don't assume someone isn't "worth talking to" based on initial impressions or stereotypes. Give people a chance; you might be surprised by what you discover.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worth talking to" functions primarily as a subjective assessment, indicating whether someone or something is considered engaging or beneficial to converse with. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, from evaluating individuals' personalities to assessing the value of discussing specific topics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

23%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "worth talking to" is a commonly used phrase that expresses the value or benefit of engaging in conversation with someone or about a particular topic. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across diverse sources. While the phrase is often used to express a subjective opinion, it's important to avoid making snap judgments based on superficial factors. Consider the potential for mutual learning, shared interests, or the opportunity to gain a new perspective when deciding if someone is "worth talking to". Be mindful of your audience and adjust your language accordingly. The phrase is suitable for both informal and semi-formal contexts, but more formal alternatives may be preferable in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deserving of conversation

Highlights that the person has qualities that makes them worth talking to.

valuable to speak with

Highlights the value or benefit derived from speaking to someone.

interesting to converse with

Focuses on the act of conversing and finds the person engaging.

someone you should engage with

Emphasizes the recommendation to start a conversation.

a person of interest for conversation

Highlights that the individual has interesting qualities that make them worth talking to.

rewarding to discuss things with

Implies the conversation will be fulfilling or beneficial.

productive to have a dialogue with

Suggests that talking to the person will yield positive results or insights.

good to have a word with

Offers a slightly less formal way to encourage speaking with someone.

advantageous to chat with

Suggests potential benefits or opportunities from talking to that person.

merits discussion

Focuses on whether the topic or person deserves to be discussed.

FAQs

How can I use "worth talking to" in a sentence?

You can use "worth talking to" to describe someone who is interesting or valuable to converse with. For example, "She is "worth talking to" because she has a unique perspective on things".

What's a more formal way to say "worth talking to"?

In more formal contexts, you could say "valuable to speak with" or "a person of interest for conversation". These alternatives convey a similar meaning while maintaining a higher degree of formality.

When is it appropriate to say someone isn't "worth talking to"?

It's generally best to avoid saying someone isn't "worth talking to" directly, as it can be offensive. However, you might think this privately if someone is consistently rude, dismissive, or unwilling to engage in meaningful conversation. In such cases, it might be best to limit interaction.

What does it mean when someone says a topic is "worth talking to"?

While less common, saying a topic is "worth talking to" can mean that the topic is important, relevant, or has the potential to generate interesting discussion. For example, "Climate change is a topic that is "worth talking to" because it impacts everyone".