Discuss or Discuss About? Common English Mistake Explained

“We discussed about the topic” is one of the most common English mistakes among Bangladeshi learners. It sounds natural to many speakers because Bangla often uses an idea similar to “about” when we talk about a topic. But in standard English, this sentence needs a small correction: say “We discussed the topic.”

The discuss about mistake appears in speaking, essays, office emails, and classroom English. The good news is that it is easy to fix once you understand the verb pattern. The problem is not the idea. The problem is using an extra preposition after a verb that already takes a direct object.

Why “discuss about” is not the standard form

“Discuss” is a transitive verb. That means it can take an object directly after it. You discuss a problem, discuss a topic, discuss a plan, or discuss an issue. You do not need “about” immediately after “discuss.”

Correct: “We discussed the topic.”

Incorrect: “We discussed about the topic.”

This can feel confusing because “talk” works differently. You say, “We talked about the topic.” You can also say, “We had a discussion about the topic,” because “discussion” is a noun and it can be followed by “about.” So the pattern is: discuss something, talk about something, have a discussion about something.

The Bangla translation trap

Many Banglish mistakes come from translating the structure of Bangla directly into English. In Bangla, we may express the idea of talking “about” something, so learners carry that pattern into every English verb. But English verbs do not all use the same prepositions.

For example, learners often say “mention about,” but the standard form is “mention the issue.” They may say “enter into the room,” but in everyday standard English, “enter the room” is usually enough. Another common one is “emphasize on.” You can say “emphasize the point” or “put emphasis on the point,” but “emphasize on the point” is not the best pattern.

The lesson is simple: do not attach a preposition just because the Bangla meaning feels incomplete without it. Learn the verb with its pattern.

Verb patterns worth remembering

Here are a few useful patterns for students and job seekers:

• discuss the problem, not discuss about the problem
• mention the result, not mention about the result
• request information, or make a request for information
• explain the answer to me, not explain me the answer
• reach the office, not reach to the office

These patterns are especially important in IELTS Writing and Speaking because small repeated errors can make your English sound less controlled. You do not need to memorise a long grammar rule for each one. Just learn the verb together with a short example sentence.

Practise the correction in your own English

Write five sentences using “discuss.” Use real situations from your life: class, office, family, study, or IELTS. For example: “I discussed my study plan with my teacher” or “We discussed the schedule before the meeting.” Then write two sentences with “talk about” so you can feel the difference.

The correction is small, but it makes your English cleaner. Instead of trying to translate word by word from Bangla, notice how the English verb behaves. Once you learn the pattern, “discuss the topic” will start to sound natural.