When I first began teaching English, I observed that many learners, especially those translating from other languages, would use the phrase “Discuss About” in both speech and writing. I recall a student who once wrote, “Let’s discuss about the marketing report,” and I remember how natural it sounded – at first. But this is actually a classic grammar rule trap that even fluent English speakers fall into. The core issue lies in the verb “discuss,” which already contains the meaning of talking “about” something, so adding “about” again is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect. It’s like saying “talk about about.” After discovering this, I started building targeted lessons to break down this frequent mistake and help others avoid it.
Over the years, I developed a practical guide to help students replace “discuss about” with clearer, more accurate expressions. For example, instead of “Let’s discuss about the problem,” simply saying “Let’s discuss the problem” is correct. Other useful alternatives include “talk about,” “go over,” or “review,” depending on your tone and the formality of the situation. I’ve also introduced fun hacks to help people remember, like imagining a red flag every time “discuss” is followed by “about.” Through continued examples and repetition, my learners started mastering this subtle rule, and I noticed real improvement. It’s not only about correcting one mistake, but understanding how tiny words shape meaning in English.
What Does “Discuss” Really Mean?
To understand why “discuss about” is incorrect, we first need to unpack the verb “discuss.”
Definition of Discuss
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, “discuss” means:
“To talk about something with somebody, especially in order to decide something.”
Simple, right? But there’s something missing in that definition – did you notice?
It doesn’t include the word “about.”
That’s because “discuss” is a transitive verb. And in English grammar, that changes everything.
Grammar Mechanics: Why “Discuss About” Is Incorrect
What’s a Transitive Verb?
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning.
Here’s the structure:
Verb + [direct object]
In the case of “discuss,” the direct object is the topic being talked about.
Let’s break this down with examples:
Incorrect | Correct |
“Let’s discuss about the plan.” | “Let’s discuss the plan.” |
“She discussed about the issue.” | “She discussed the issue.” |
“We need to discuss about the proposal.” | “We need to discuss the proposal.” |
In each correct sentence, the verb “discuss” directly links to the object. No preposition like “about” is needed. In fact, inserting “about” breaks the rule – and makes the sentence grammatically wrong.
Sentence Comparison: Sounding Right vs. Being Right
Let’s examine why “discuss about” sounds okay – but actually isn’t.
You might say:
“We discussed about the strategy in yesterday’s meeting.”
It feels natural because we’re used to hearing:
“We talked about the strategy…”
That’s where the confusion kicks in.
“Discuss” vs. “Talk About”
These two are close in meaning but structurally different.
Verb | Requires ‘about’? | Correct Example |
Discuss | ❌ No | “Let’s discuss the issue.” |
Talk | ✅ Yes | “Let’s talk about the issue.” |
“Talk” is intransitive when it stands alone. To point to a topic, it needs “about.”
“Discuss” is transitive – it already contains the idea of “about.” So adding “about” is redundant and incorrect.
Real-World Examples of the Correct Usage of “Discuss”
Here are a few real-life examples pulled from published sources and natural speech:
- “The board will discuss the budget at the next meeting.”
- “We discussed our future plans during dinner.”
- “She discussed the problem in detail with her supervisor.”
You won’t see “discuss about” in any professional or academic content. Why? Because editors and grammar tools instantly flag it as wrong.
Mini Quiz: Are These Correct or Incorrect?
Let’s test what you’ve learned so far.
Choose whether the following sentences are correct or incorrect:
- “He wants to discuss about the options.”
- “She discussed the contract with the client.”
- “They discussed about moving abroad.”
- “We discussed the design revisions yesterday.”
Answers:
- ❌ Incorrect
- ✅ Correct
- ❌ Incorrect
- ✅ Correct
Understanding Transitive Verbs Like “Discuss”
To fully grasp why “discuss about” doesn’t work, you need to understand transitive verbs.
What is a Transitive Verb?
A transitive verb is one that needs a direct object to complete its meaning. Without a direct object, the sentence feels incomplete.
Think of it like this:
“I kicked.” ❌ (Kicked what?) “I kicked the ball.” ✅
Now apply that to “discuss”:
“We discussed.” ❌ (Discussed what?) “We discussed the strategy.” ✅
In both cases, the verb requires an object. Adding “about” between them makes the structure grammatically clumsy.
List of Common Transitive Verbs Often Misused with Prepositions
English learners often make the same mistake with other transitive verbs too.
Transitive Verb | Incorrect Usage | Correct Usage |
Approach | “Approach to the manager” | “Approach the manager” |
Mention | “Mention about the issue” | “Mention the issue” |
Join | “Join with the team” | “Join the team” |
Reach | “Reach to the destination” | “Reach the destination” |
Discuss | “Discuss about the plan” | “Discuss the plan” |
These are direct action verbs – you go straight to the object without detouring through a preposition.
Etymology of “Discuss”: Historical Clarity on Usage
Understanding a word’s origin helps clarify its current use.
Where Does “Discuss” Come From?
“Discuss” comes from the Latin word discutere, meaning:
“To examine, shake apart, or investigate”
This Latin origin explains why “discuss” naturally means to explore or examine a topic – not talk about a topic. It’s baked into the verb itself.
By the time “discuss” entered Middle English in the 14th century, it already implied debate, argument, or analysis.
That’s why we don’t need to pair it with a preposition like “about.” It already contains that nuance.
Why “About” Is Misused After Certain Verbs
It all comes down to habits in speech and influences from similar verbs.
When people frequently hear:
- “Talk about”
- “Speak about”
- “Complain about”
…it becomes natural to assume “discuss about” is acceptable too.
The Real Problem: Pattern Misapplication
This is called collocational interference – when learners apply familiar grammatical patterns from one verb to another that doesn’t follow the same rule.
But language isn’t always logical.
Just because “talk about” is right doesn’t make “discuss about” right.
When “About” Is Correct – and With What Verbs
So, when is “about” the right choice?
When you’re using verbs that require a preposition to introduce the subject being talked about.
Common Verbs that Require “About”
Verb | Correct Usage |
Talk | “Talk about the issue” |
Think | “Think about your future” |
Complain | “Complain about the noise” |
Dream | “Dream about success” |
Argue | “Argue about politics” |
In these cases, the verb does not carry a direct object by default. The preposition “about” fills that grammatical gap.
“Discuss” doesn’t need it – because it’s already doing that job.
Alternatives to “Discuss” That Do Require a Preposition
Not every conversation verb is like “discuss.” Some alternatives follow different structures – and do require prepositions.
Here’s a handy breakdown:
Phrase | Requires “About”? | Correct Structure | Tone/Formality |
Talk about | ✅ Yes | “Talk about the proposal” | Neutral |
Speak about | ✅ Yes | “Speak about the event” | Slightly formal |
Have a discussion about | ✅ Yes | “Have a discussion about the issue” | Formal |
Converse about | ✅ Yes | “Converse about the topic” | Very formal |
Debate | ❌ No | “Debate the topic” | Formal |
Use these when you want more variation – especially in academic or business writing – but match the level of formality.
Correct Sentence Constructions Using “Discuss”
Let’s reinforce your understanding with fully correct examples.
Direct Object Usage (No Preposition):
- “We need to discuss the budget today.”
- “They discussed the problem at length.”
- “She discussed career options with her mentor.”
- “The matter was thoroughly discussed in the report.”
Notice how fluid and professional each sentence sounds.
Adding “about” would immediately make them awkward or incorrect.
Final Thoughts
In English, subtle differences in grammar often make a big impact on clarity and correctness. One such difference is the unnecessary addition of “about” after the verb “discuss.”
To recap:
- “Discuss” is a transitive verb, meaning it directly takes an object.
- You should say: “Let’s discuss the matter” – not “Let’s discuss about the matter.”
- The confusion typically stems from similarly used verbs like “talk” or “speak”, which do require prepositions.
In professional writing, job interviews, academic papers, and everyday conversations, getting this right signals a strong grasp of grammar. And that builds credibility and confidence.
The fix is simple, but the impact is big: drop the “about.”
FAQs
Is “discuss about” ever grammatically correct in English?
No. The phrase “discuss about” is never considered correct in standard English. The verb “discuss” is transitive, so it must be followed directly by the topic without a preposition.
❌ Wrong: “Let’s discuss about the new policy.” ✅ Right: “Let’s discuss the new policy.”
Why do so many people say “discuss about”?
The mistake usually comes from confusion with similar phrases like “talk about” or “speak about” – both of which correctly use “about.” Over time, learners of English mistakenly apply the same pattern to “discuss,” even though it’s structurally different.
What’s the difference between “discuss” and “talk about”?
Both mean to communicate about a topic, but “discuss” is more formal and concise. It’s also a transitive verb, so it doesn’t use “about.”
“We discussed the budget.” “We talked about the budget.”
While the meanings are similar, the sentence construction differs.
Can I say “have a discussion about”?
Yes! That phrase is grammatically correct.
✅ “Let’s have a discussion about our next steps.”
Even though “discuss” doesn’t need “about,” “discussion” as a noun often does. The structure changes from verb-object to noun-preposition-object.
How can I remember not to use “about” with “discuss”?
Here’s a grammar hack: If you can replace “discuss” with “talk about”, then you don’t need “about.”
❌ “Discuss about the topic” ✅ “Talk about the topic” ✅ “Discuss the topic”
Just keep this in mind:
“Discuss” the topic “Talk about” the topic