Is It Correct to Say “Discuss About”? A Complete Guide

When people search online, they often look for platforms to discuss topics that matter most. Is It Correct to Say “Discuss About”? Understanding this helps sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas, and engaging in debates, which brings communities together. From social media threads to forums and academic spaces, conversations thrive when individuals are encouraged to express themselves freely in today’s digital world, making discussions natural and meaningful.

Creating discussions that spread awareness and help with problem-solving and decision-making adds real value. Creating meaningful, trending communities allows us to grow stronger and more informed. Personal growth, mental fitness, and finance topics often spark learning from others’ experiences, while professionals share business strategies, marketing ideas, and innovations to stay ahead in fields, highlighting the impact of thoughtful dialogue.

The beauty of open dialogue lies in diversity. When people with different perspectives discuss issues, solutions emerge that might not appear in isolation. These articles and threads explore important topics and various views, shaping everyday lives. By actively choosing to discuss, we shape understanding, strengthen abilities, and connect across digital and real-world spaces in meaningful ways.

Understanding “Discuss” as a Transitive Verb

The first step in mastering correct usage is understanding what “discuss” actually is. In English, “discuss” is a transitive verb, which means it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. Unlike intransitive verbs, which stand alone, transitive verbs need something to act upon.

For example:

• Correct: We discussed the project timeline.
• Incorrect: We discussed about the project timeline.

Notice that in the correct sentence, “the project timeline” is the direct object. Adding “about” is unnecessary because the verb already implies that a subject is being considered or examined.

Grammar refresher:
A simple transitive verb sentence follows this structure:

Subject + Verb + Direct Object

Subject	Verb	Direct Object	Correct Usage?
We	discussed	budget proposal	✅ Correct
They	discussed	about marketing	❌ Incorrect
I	discussed	team performance	✅ Correct

Understanding this transitive structure is crucial because it explains why native speakers never say “discuss about” naturally.

Why “Discuss About” is Redundant

The main reason “discuss about” is wrong is redundancy. In English, redundancy occurs when a sentence includes words that repeat the meaning already expressed. Since “discuss” inherently means to talk or write about a subject, tacking on “about” is unnecessary.

Historically, “discuss” comes from the Latin verb discutere, which means “to shake apart or examine”. Over time, this evolved into modern English usage, implying an in-depth review of a topic. Adding “about” doesn’t add clarity; it just sounds repetitive.

Common errors with “discuss about”:

• Learners translate directly from languages where “about” is required.
• Overgeneralization from verbs like “talk about” or “think about.”
• Influence from informal writing, social media posts, or casual speech.

Verb	Correct Usage	Incorrect Usage
Discuss	Discuss the plan	Discuss about the plan
Talk	Talk about plans	Talk plans
Think	Think about ideas	Think ideas

As you can see, only verbs that don’t inherently carry the “about” meaning need the preposition.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Many learners continue to say “discuss about” because of common misconceptions. Let’s break down the main ones:

• Mistake #1: Confusing with “talk about”
  Talk is intransitive, so it always needs “about.”
  • Correct: We talked about the meeting.
  • Incorrect: We talked the meeting.
• Mistake #2: Overgeneralizing preposition rules
  Learners assume all verbs that convey ideas require “about.”
  • Correct: We examined the results.
  • Incorrect: We examined about the results.
• Mistake #3: Using it in formal writing
  “Discuss about” is sometimes seen in emails, essays, or reports, which can make the text sound unprofessional.

Top 5 learner errors with examples:

1. We will discuss about the proposal. →Use: We will discuss the proposal.
2. She discussed about the new strategy in the meeting. →Correct: She discussed the new strategy in the meeting.
3. They discussed about the problem without reaching a solution. →Correct: They discussed the problem without reaching a solution.
4. He discussed about his career plans. →Correct: He discussed his career plans.
5. The students discussed about climate change in class. →Correct: The students discussed climate change in class.

Acceptable Alternatives to “Discuss About”

Even if “discuss about” is incorrect, English offers plenty of alternatives that are natural and context-appropriate.

1. Using “Discuss” Properly

• Correct: We discussed the marketing plan.

2. Using “Talk About”

• Correct: We talked about the marketing plan.
• Best for casual conversation.

3. Using Synonyms

Other verbs you can use depending on context include:

Verb	Tone/Context	Example Sentence
Debate	Formal/academic	They debated the merits of the law.
Examine	Analytical/professional	The report examines climate patterns.
Review	Workplace/academic	We reviewed the project timeline.
Analyze	Professional/academic	The team analyzed sales data.
Explore	Neutral/creative	We explored new marketing ideas.

By using these alternatives, your writing will sound more polished and appropriate for different situations.

Etymology and Evolution of “Discuss”

Understanding where a word comes from can clarify usage.

• Origin: Latin discutere → “to shake apart”
• Early English Usage: 15th century, meaning “to break apart arguments, to examine closely”
• Modern English: Now means “to talk about something in detail”, without needing an extra preposition.

This history explains why English speakers naturally drop “about” after “discuss.” It’s already baked into the meaning.

Prepositions and English Construction

English verbs interact with prepositions in predictable patterns, but you need to know the difference:

• Transitive verbs: Do not need prepositions for their object. Discuss, examine, analyze, review
• Intransitive verbs: Often need prepositions. Talk about, think about, worry about

Quick tips:

• Ask: Does the verb need a direct object to make sense? → If yes, no “about.”
• Ask: Does the verb express general action or emotion without an object? → If yes, add the preposition.

Examples:

Verb	Needs “About”?	Correct Usage
Discuss	No	Discuss the results
Talk	Yes	Talk about the results
Think	Yes	Think about your choices
Examine	No	Examine the evidence
Review	No	Review the report

Illustrating Proper Usage with Real Examples

Seeing “discuss” in action makes it stick. Here are examples from different contexts:

Academic Writing

• The researchers discussed the implications of their findings in the conclusion.
• Students discussed ethical considerations during the seminar.

Professional Setting

• We discussed the quarterly budget in the meeting.
• The manager discussed performance goals with the team.

Casual Conversation

• We discussed our travel plans over coffee.
• She discussed her new hobby with friends.

Mini Exercise for Readers: Identify correct usage:

1. They discussed about the new software update.
2. He discussed the meeting agenda with colleagues.
3. We discussed about our vacation plans.
4. She discussed her goals for the year.

Correct answers: 2 and 4. This simple practice shows how intuitive proper usage becomes with exposure.

Enriching Vocabulary: Synonyms for “Discuss”

To avoid repetition and elevate your writing, consider these synonyms:

Synonym	Context/Use	Example Sentence
Debate	Academic, formal	The students debated the topic vigorously.
Examine	Professional, analytical	The report examines market trends.
Review	Work, academic	We reviewed the client’s proposal.
Analyze	Data-driven, professional	The team analyzed the quarterly results.
Explore	Creative, neutral	They explored new solutions to the problem.
Confer	Formal, diplomatic	The leaders conferred about the policy.
Negotiate	Business or formal discussion	We negotiated the contract terms.

Using synonyms strategically enhances tone, variety, and clarity.

Conclusion

Using discuss correctly is important for clear communication. Saying “discuss about” is redundant because discuss already means talking about something. By avoiding this phrase, you make your conversations and writing more polished, professional, and understandable.

Paying attention to small grammar details like this helps improve language skills, boosts confidence, and ensures your ideas are shared effectively. Remember, focusing on proper usage shows your strong grasp of English and keeps your discussions meaningful.

FAQs

Q1: Is it wrong to say “discuss about” in English?

Yes, it is considered grammatically incorrect. You should just use discuss followed by the topic.

Q2: Can “discuss about” be used in casual speech?

Some people may use it casually, but it is better to avoid it in both formal writing and speaking.

Q3: What is the correct way to use “discuss”?

Use discuss directly with the topic, for example: “We will discuss the new project tomorrow.”

Q4: Why do people say “discuss about”?

Many learners and even native speakers confuse the phrase because discuss naturally implies “about,” so adding it is unnecessary.

Q5: How can I remember not to use “about” with discuss?

Think of discuss as already meaning “talk about.” Removing about will make your sentences grammatically correct and clear.

References & Further Reading:

• Cambridge Dictionary – Discuss
• Oxford English Dictionary – Discuss
• Grammarly Blog – Common English Mistakes