If you say "let us discuss about it" and someone corrects you, it can feel unfair. The sentence sounds complete. The extra word feels natural. Here is the kind truth: this habit is everywhere, and it is one of the easiest fixes in all of spoken English. You do not learn a new rule. You simply remove one small word that the verb already carries. That is it. Less to say, and it comes out correct. Once you see which verbs do this, you will catch the extra word before it leaves your mouth. Let us clear up "discuss about" and a few of its cousins, gently.
Quick answer: "Discuss about" is wrong because "discuss" already means "talk about," so "about" is extra. Say "discuss the plan," not "discuss about the plan." The same goes for "explain it" (not "explain about it"), "return the book" (not "return back"), and "repeat it" (not "repeat it again"). The fix is to drop the small extra word. The verb carries the meaning on its own.
Why is "discuss about" wrong?
Because "discuss" already contains the idea of "about." When you discuss something, you are talking about it, so adding "about" repeats yourself.
❌ "Let us discuss about the budget." ✅ "Let us discuss the budget."
❌ "We discussed about the trip." ✅ "We discussed the trip."
❌ "I want to discuss about this with you." ✅ "I want to discuss this with you."
Think of "discuss" as "talk about" rolled into one word. You would not say "talk about about it." So you do not need "about" after "discuss" either. Drop it, and the sentence is both shorter and correct. This is true for a small group of verbs that already include their own little word inside them.
Common mistakes
❌ "They discussed about politics for hours." ✅ "They discussed politics for hours."
❌ "Can we discuss about my salary?" ✅ "Can we discuss my salary?"
The fix never changes: remove "about" right after "discuss." Nothing else moves.
Which other verbs don't need "about"?
A few verbs work just like "discuss." They already point at the topic, so "about" is extra.
❌ "Let me explain about the process." ✅ "Let me explain the process."
❌ "I will describe about the place." ✅ "I will describe the place."
❌ "Please order about the food." ✅ "Please order the food."
❌ "She explained about her plan."
✅ "She explained her plan."
A simple test: if the verb already means "to tell or talk about something," it usually does not need "about." Explain, describe, discuss, and request all work this way. For the wider family of these habits, see the list of 20 common mistakes Indians make.
Say this, not that
❌ "I requested for a leave." ✅ "I requested a leave," or "I asked for leave."
❌ "Tell about yourself." ✅ "Tell me about yourself." (here "about" is fine, just add "me")
❌ "He mentioned about the issue." ✅ "He mentioned the issue."
What about "return back" and "repeat again"?
These come from a different habit: adding a word that repeats what the verb already says. "Return" already means "go back," so "return back" says "back" twice.
❌ "Please return back my book." ✅ "Please return my book."
❌ "Reverse back the car." ✅ "Reverse the car."
❌ "Repeat it again." ✅ "Repeat it." (or "Say it again," not both)
❌ "Revert back to me." ✅ "Reply to me," or "Get back to me."
Each of these has a hidden "back" or "again" already inside the verb. Return, reverse, repeat, and revert all point backward or to a redo by themselves. So the extra word is just an echo. Drop it, and you sound clean and sure.
Common mistakes
❌ "Let us go back and revert back later." ✅ "Let us go back and reply later."
❌ "Can you repeat that again?" ✅ "Can you repeat that?"
How do I tailor this to my daily talk?
Watch the few verbs you use most and trim the extra word in real time.
- In meetings: "Let us discuss the plan." "I will explain the steps." (no "about")
- At work over chat: "Please return the file." "I will get back to you." (no "back" after return or revert)
- In conversation: "Can you repeat that?" "Tell me about your weekend." (drop "again"; keep "about" only when it belongs, as after "tell me")
- In a request: "I requested a day off." (no "for" after requested, though "asked for" is fine)
A handy habit: after you speak, ask yourself, "Did I say a word twice in different clothes?" If "discuss" and "about" both showed up, or "return" and "back," trim one. With a little practice, you will trim it before you even say it.
Say it out loud (2-minute practice)
Say these aloud so the shorter, correct version becomes your default:
- Drop "about" after discuss: "Let us discuss the plan. We discussed the trip. Can we discuss this?"
- Drop "about" after explain/describe: "Let me explain the process. I will describe the place."
- Drop "back" after return/reverse: "Please return the book. Reverse the car."
- Drop "again" after repeat: "Can you repeat that? Please repeat the question."
- Fix "revert back": "Please reply. Please get back to me."
- Repeat tomorrow with sentences from your own day at work or home.
Two minutes a day trains your mouth to skip the extra word on its own. If you want kind, guided practice while you tidy up habits like this, the FirstWords speaking course was made for learners cleaning up small, everyday slips without any pressure.
A quick word on the fear
If trimming words feels strange, that is normal. These extra words were said all around you, so they came to feel like part of the sentence. Adding them is not a sign of weak English. It is a sign that you learned English by ear from other learners, which is a very natural way to learn. Everyone picks up a few of these echoes. They never once stopped people from understanding you. So there is nothing to feel bad about. You are just polishing, one small word at a time, and each trim makes you sound a touch crisper and more sure.
Mini-FAQ
Is "discuss about" ever correct?
No. After the verb "discuss," you never need "about." Say "discuss the matter," not "discuss about the matter." The verb already means "talk about."
Is "tell about yourself" wrong?
The "about" is fine here; the missing word is "me." Say "Tell me about yourself." Some verbs do take "about," so the rule is about specific verbs, not banning the word everywhere.
Why is "revert back" wrong?
"Revert" already means "go back," so "back" repeats it. Also, "revert" to mean "reply" is dated. The clearest choice is "reply" or "get back to me."
Will people misunderstand me if I add the extra word?
No. Listeners follow your meaning easily. Trimming these words is about sounding clean and confident, not about being understood. So fix them calmly, with no rush.
Your next step
Extra-word habits are some of the quickest fixes in spoken English, because you remove rather than learn. Pick one, like dropping "about" after "discuss," and say the short version out loud a few times today. It will start coming out correctly on its own. Each trimmed word makes your English a little cleaner and your voice a little surer. If you want a warm, judgment-free place to practise fixes like this, explore the FirstWords English program and go one small win at a time.
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