20 Alternatives to "Talk About" – Smarter Phrases

20 Alternatives to "Talk About" – Smarter Phrases for Academic Writing (2025)

“Talk about” is a casual phrase we all use. But in academic writing, essays, formal emails, and professional reports, you need more precise and sophisticated vocabulary. This guide presents 20 powerful alternatives to "talk about," with examples tailored for students, professionals, and content creators in 2025.

  

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 Why Avoid “Talk About” in Formal Writing?

• It’s too vague for serious analysis or explanation

• It sounds conversational and informal

• Stronger verbs help you clarify what you’re doing — analyzing, explaining, comparing, etc.

In essays, be direct. Say what you’re doing: analyze, explore, present, discuss.

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 20 Smarter Ways to Say “Talk About” (with Examples)

1. Discuss

"This paper will discuss the impact of climate change policies."

2. Analyze

"We will analyze three causes of inflation."

3. Examine

"The report examines gender roles in modern media."

4. Explore

"This essay explores the ethics of artificial intelligence."

5. Present

"In this section, we present the key findings."

6. Describe

"The author describes the main character's transformation."

7. Outline

"The article outlines five steps to financial literacy."

8. Review

"We review the current literature on vaccine distribution."

9. Evaluate

"The essay evaluates the pros and cons of online education."

10. Consider

"This paragraph considers opposing viewpoints."

11. Explain

"The speaker explains the difference between sympathy and empathy."

12. Highlight

"The study highlights key social patterns in urban areas."

13. Comment On

"She comments on the rise of influencer marketing."

14. Argue

"This essay argues that censorship undermines democracy."

15. Debate

"The authors debate the effectiveness of standardized testing."

16. Introduce

"First, we introduce the concept of cognitive bias."

17. Investigate

"The researchers investigate cultural identity in bilingual children."

18. Address

"The conclusion addresses potential limitations."

19. Delve Into (slightly informal but accepted in advanced essays)

"The article delves into the psychology of consumer behavior."

20. Focus On

"This section focuses on environmental policy reform."

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 Rewrite Example

❌ Weak: "This paper will talk about global warming."
✅ Better: "This paper will examine the causes and effects of global warming."

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 Related Reading:

• Essay Introductions & Hooks

• Essay Transitions & Linking Words

• 25 Synonyms for Presentation

Stop writing “talk about”! Use these 20 precise and professional alternatives for essays, reports, and formal writing. Examples included