Discuss the family business vs Examine

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Discuss the family business

Top 2,000 (common)

Examine

Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
 Discuss the family businessExamine
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //dɪsˈkʌs ðə ˈfæmɪli ˈbɪznɪs//🇺🇸 //dɪsˈkʌs ðə ˈfæmɪli ˈbɪznəs//🇬🇧 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/
MeaningTalk about the family's company or work.to look at something carefully to learn more about it
ExampleWe need to **discuss the family business** during our meetings.The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-B1
Part of speechverb
Collocationshave a meeting to discuss the family business, decide how to discuss the family business, plan to discuss the family businesscarefully, closely, in detail, aim to, attempt to, be designed to, for, let us examine…, carefully, closely, in detail, aim to, attempt to, be designed to, for, let us examine…
Antonyms-ignore, overlook, neglect
Common mistakesUsing 'discuss about' instead of just 'discuss'., 'Discussing' as a noun, instead of using it as a verb.Confused with 'inspect' — 'examine' is broader than just checking for flaws., Misusing the tense — should use 'examined' for past actions, not 'examine'., Incorrect prepositions — do not say 'examine to' but 'examine for' in some contexts.
Usage notesUse this phrase when referring to conversations about a family's entrepreneurial activities. It's appropriate in both professional and personal contexts.Use 'examine' in formal contexts like academic writing or professional discussions. It may sound out of place in casual conversations, where 'look at' might be preferred.

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Discuss the family business

Frequently asked questions: Discuss the family business vs Examine

What's the difference between Discuss the family business and Examine?

Discuss the family business: Talk about the family's company or work. Examine: to look at something carefully to learn more about it

Can you show an example of each?

Discuss the family business: We need to **discuss the family business** during our meetings. Examine: The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up.

Can I use Discuss the family business and Examine interchangeably?

Not always. Discuss the family business and Examine are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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