Grammatically, it seems only correct to say "Let's discuss the issues", as "discuss" is transitive
However, I heard it so many times people say "Let's discuss about the issues"
Below I quote a sentence from New York Times - Nov. 24, 2006
"On average, Keller Fay finds that people discuss about a dozen brands each day"
Can we use "discuss about" ??
However, I heard it so many times people say "Let's discuss about the issues"
Below I quote a sentence from New York Times - Nov. 24, 2006
"On average, Keller Fay finds that people discuss about a dozen brands each day"
Can we use "discuss about" ??
Hi,
Grammatically, it seems only correct to say "Let's discuss the issues", as "discuss" is transitive This is true.
However, I heard it so many times people say "Let's discuss about the issues" Not correct. You could say 'Let's have a discussion about the issues'.
Below I quote a sentence from New York Times - Nov. 24, 2006
"On average, Keller Fay finds that people discuss about a dozen brands each day"
Can we use "discuss about" ?? No. You are mis-parsing the sentence. Read it this way.
"On average, Keller Fay finds that people discuss (about a dozen) brands each day"
'About a dozen' is phrase that is like saying 'approximately 12'.
Clive
Grammatically, it seems only correct to say "Let's discuss the issues", as "discuss" is transitive This is true.
However, I heard it so many times people say "Let's discuss about the issues" Not correct. You could say 'Let's have a discussion about the issues'.
Below I quote a sentence from New York Times - Nov. 24, 2006
"On average, Keller Fay finds that people discuss about a dozen brands each day"
Can we use "discuss about" ?? No. You are mis-parsing the sentence. Read it this way.
"On average, Keller Fay finds that people discuss (about a dozen) brands each day"
'About a dozen' is phrase that is like saying 'approximately 12'.
Clive
Comments
The confusing thing to me is that American Heritage lists four synonyms, argue, contend, debate, and dispute; and every one of them has an intransitive option. 'With two of them, contend and debate, the intransitive definition is listed first. It's little wonder that people use "discuss" as an intransitive.
You often hear, "Let's discuss." The object may or may not be understood/implied. But I sense that it's often used like LBJ's "Let us reason together."
It seems like sometimes a usage is "fine" as long as enough people use it, regardless of what the dictionary says. In other cases, it's not.
My own inclination is to use discuss only as a transitive verb.
1,810,000 Google hits for "discuss about" Would you believe the first one is this thread!!?
You should not use "discuss about". For further information about this, please read Clive's response (above).
Remember that discuss is never followed by 'about'.
Don't say 'discuss about something', say discuss something :
We need to discuss about the new advertising campaign.
We need to discuss the new advertising campaign.