The correct form is 'discuss', not 'discuss about'
Wrong
“We will discuss about the project timeline.”
Correct
“We will discuss the project timeline.”
In standard English, 'discuss' is a transitive verb. That means it normally takes a direct object without a preposition. You discuss a topic, a plan, a problem, an idea, or a proposal. You do not usually say 'discuss about' before the thing you want to talk about.
Why Arabic speakers make this mistake
This mistake is very common for Arabic speakers because the equivalent idea in Arabic often includes a preposition similar to 'about'. When you translate directly from Arabic to English, 'discuss about' feels logical. In English, however, the verb 'discuss' already contains the meaning of 'talk about', so adding 'about' is unnecessary.
Correct examples in real professional situations
Meeting
“Today, we will discuss the new supplier contract.”
Email or message
“Can we discuss the proposal tomorrow?”
Interview
“In my previous role, I discussed strategy with senior managers.”
Client call
“I would like to discuss your requirements.”
Project update
“We need to discuss the delay before Thursday.”
Why does this matter in a professional context?
Saying 'discuss about' is usually understood, so it is not a serious communication failure. However, in meetings, interviews, and client conversations, small grammar patterns can affect how polished your English sounds. A listener may understand your message but still notice that the phrase is not natural. Using 'discuss the topic' signals that you are comfortable with professional English. It makes your speech more concise, especially when you are leading meetings, writing agendas, or explaining decisions to managers and clients.
Ready-to-use phrases with 'discuss'
“Let's discuss the next steps.”
Use this at the end of a meeting or after presenting a problem.
“We need to discuss the budget before we confirm.”
Useful when a decision depends on cost or approval.
“Can we discuss the client feedback in tomorrow's meeting?”
Good for email or work messages when suggesting an agenda item.
“I would like to discuss your requirements in more detail.”
Professional and polite for client calls or sales conversations.
“We discussed the timeline and agreed on the delivery date.”
Use this when summarising what happened in a meeting.
“Could we discuss this after the presentation?”
A polite way to delay a topic until a better moment.
What to say instead
What many Arabic speakers say
“Let's discuss about the meeting agenda.”
'Discuss' already means 'talk about', so 'about' is not needed.
What to say instead
“Let's discuss the meeting agenda.”
This uses 'discuss' directly before the topic, which is the natural professional form.
Other phrases to double-check
- •Talk about vs discuss: say 'talk about the issue' or 'discuss the issue'.
- •Explain to me vs explain me: say 'Could you explain this to me?'
- •Reply to vs reply on: say 'I will reply to your email'.
- •Request vs request for: say 'I requested approval' or 'I made a request for approval'.
- •Attend vs attend to: say 'I attended the meeting'.
- •Enter vs enter to: say 'Please enter the meeting room'.
Frequently asked questions
Is 'discuss about' correct English?▾
Why do Arabic speakers say 'discuss about'?▾
What is the difference between 'discuss' and 'talk about'?▾
How can I remember whether to use 'discuss' or 'discuss about'?▾
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