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'Discuss Something' or 'Discuss about Something'? Which One Is Correct? | Mastering Grammar

(Last Updated: 4 February 2024)


Discuss or Discuss About: Which One Is Correct?

Discuss is a transitive verb, and therefore it takes a direct object. It is never used with the preposition about:

We should discuss this topic.
We should discuss about this topic.

Let's discuss the pros and cons of playing video games.
Let's discuss about the pros and cons of playing video games.

He has already discussed this problem with his lawyer.
He has already discussed about this problem with his lawyer.

I discussed with my family how we are going to handle the crisis together.
I discussed with my family about how we are going to handle the crisis together.

Instead of discuss something, you can also say have a discussion about something or talk about something:

We should have a discussion about this topic.
We should talk about this topic.

Let's have a discussion about the pros and cons of playing video games.
Let's talk about the pros and cons of playing video games.

He has already had a discussion about this problem with his lawyer.
He has already talked about this problem with his lawyer.

I had a discussion with my family about how we are going to handle the crisis together.
I talked with my family about how we are going to handle the crisis together.

You can use about with the noun discussion, but not the verb discuss.

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Examples from the Media

Cabinet will meet early Monday morning to discuss easing COVID-19 restrictions in the province, sources say. —Toronto Star (2022)

An attempted coup led by former party chairman Grant Shapps has fizzled out, but the Sunday Times claimed that at least three cabinet ministers had discussed the need to replace the prime minister on Thursday evening, the day after her conference calamity. —The Guardian (2017)

There has been much discussion about the feasibility of an isolation policy with the aim of reducing the spread of Covid-19. —South China Morning Post (2022)

Overall, migration accounts for about 46 per cent of Sydney's growth. So we should not ignore a discussion about whether our overseas immigration levels are set at the right levels or geographically well-targeted. —The Sydney Morning Herald (2018)

Real-World Examples of Misuse

1. The verb discuss is never used with the preposition about.
2. The noun conversation is countable when it refers to a talk between two or more people. The indefinite article a is required.
(Source: Iris Chung, Modern Education)

The addition of with the queen does not change the fact that discuss about is incorrect.
(Source: St. Paul's Co-educational College Primary School)
(Also by the Same School: 1/2/3)

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