would have discussed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would have discussed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a hypothetical situation in the past where a discussion was expected to take place but did not occur. Example: "If we had more time, we would have discussed the project in greater detail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

That's something the U.S.T.A. and CBS would have discussed if the overtime had gone on longer.

The New York Times - Sports

Had he and I met under other circumstances, we would have discussed creams and antibiotics, referrals to dermatologists and surgeons.

The New York Times - Health

In tournament play, North-South would have discussed this situation and would know whether or not transfers applied.

The New York Times - Arts

IF I had written this a few days ago, I would have discussed the classic choice between legality and legitimacy, urging the return of a state of law.

The New York Times

Tom Watson: You don't remember whether you would have discussed any payments at all? Rebekah Brooks: I didn't say that; I said in relation to private detectives.

The New York Times

"These are absurd things they would have discussed, and advised him not to do, and now clearly no one can talk that way".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

But he added: "If there is factual material that is generally available in the department – I would have discuss that with the prime minister – but I am pretty sure he would be comfortable about that being shared.

The Guardian

I realised, one day, how many adults we'd had discussing love, politics and religion around the table when seven-year-old Benny, her hair in bunches, stood up on the pew behind the new table to make an announcement.

The Guardian - Books

'Freud's Last Session' Discussion (Tuesday) If Sigmund Freud ever met C. S. Lewis, what would they have discussed?

The New York Times - Arts

He wouldn't have discussed it anyway.

The New York Times - Sports

This is something Riley would never have discussed or even allowed to come up until lately.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would have discussed" to clearly indicate a hypothetical situation in the past where a discussion was intended but did not occur. This helps convey a sense of missed opportunity or a conditional outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "would have discussed" when referring to an actual discussion that took place. Use simple past tense instead, such as "we discussed" or "they talked about."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have discussed" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a hypothetical action in the past. It suggests that a conversation or deliberation was possible or planned but did not occur. As Ludwig AI underlines, this construction is frequently used to express missed opportunities or unrealized intentions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "would have discussed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used modal verb phrase that describes a hypothetical past action involving a conversation or deliberation. Ludwig AI confirms that this construction is used to express missed opportunities or actions that were intended but did not happen. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. To ensure correct usage, remember that it always refers to a past conditional situation, and should not be used in place of simple past tense when describing actual past events. Consider alternatives such as "might have talked about" or "could have addressed" for variations in tone or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were going to talk about

An informal alternative suggesting a prior plan for conversation.

might have talked about

Replaces "discussed" with the more informal "talked about", suggesting a less structured conversation.

planned to address

Highlights the planning stage of dealing with certain issues.

could have addressed

Substitutes "discussed" with "addressed", implying a more formal and direct handling of a topic.

should have considered

Changes the focus to consideration rather than discussion, implying a need for evaluation.

had the opportunity to discuss

Focuses on the missed opportunity for discussion.

ought to have deliberated

Replaces "would" with "ought to" and "discussed" with "deliberated", suggesting a moral obligation to have carefully considered something.

were to have conferred

Uses a more formal tone with "conferred", indicating a planned but unrealized meeting.

intended to debate

Focuses on the intention to debate, highlighting the planned argumentative aspect of the conversation.

meant to examine

Emphasizes a planned detailed examination, shifting the focus from conversation to analysis.

FAQs

How can I use "would have discussed" in a sentence?

Use "would have discussed" to describe a past hypothetical situation where a conversation or discussion was planned but did not happen. For example: "If we had more time, we "would have discussed" the project in greater detail."

What can I say instead of "would have discussed"?

You can use alternatives like "might have talked about", "could have addressed", or "should have considered" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "would had discussed"?

No, "would had discussed" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "would have discussed". The auxiliary verb "have" should always follow "would" in this conditional perfect construction.

What is the difference between "would discuss" and "would have discussed"?

"Would discuss" refers to a future hypothetical action, while "would have discussed" refers to a past hypothetical action. For instance, "We would discuss it tomorrow" implies a future discussion, whereas "We "would have discussed" it if we had met yesterday" implies a missed opportunity in the past.