Conversing or conversating which one should you use?
Many people feel unsure when speaking or writing.
You may hear conversating in casual talk, music, or social media. But in school, teachers often mark it wrong. So what’s the truth?
This confusion happens because English changes over time.
Some words sound right but are not accepted in formal grammar. Others are older but less common in speech.
That’s why many people search for conversing or conversating. They want a clear answer.
In this guide, you will learn:
- Which word is correct
- Why the confusion exists
- The history behind both words
- Differences in British and American English
- When to use each word in real life
By the end, you will feel confident using the right term in emails, essays, blogs, and daily conversation.
Conversing or Conversating – Quick Answer
Conversing is correct.
Conversating is nonstandard and considered incorrect in formal English.
Examples:
✅ Correct:
- We were conversing about the meeting.
- She enjoys conversing with her friends.
❌ Incorrect (in formal English):
- We were conversating about the meeting.
Although some people use conversating in casual speech, dictionaries and grammar experts prefer conversing.
Quick rule:
If you want to sound professional, always use conversing.
The Origin of Conversing or Conversating
To understand the debate, we need history.
The word converse comes from Latin conversari, meaning to keep company” or to associate.” It entered English in the 14th century.
From converse, we get:
- converse (verb)
- conversation (noun)
- conversing (present participle)
So where did conversating come from?
It appeared later as a back-formation from conversation. Some speakers assumed that since conversation ends in -ation,” the verb must be conversate. Then they added -ing” to create conversating.
However, major dictionaries like:
- Merriam-Webster
- Oxford English Dictionary
do not recognize conversating as standard English.
It is considered:
- Nonstandard
- Informal
- Dialectal
So historically, conversing is the original and accepted form.
British English vs American English Spelling
Is this difference about geography? Not really.
Unlike words such as:
- color vs colour
- organize vs organise
The debate between conversing and conversating is not a British vs American spelling issue.
Both:
- 🇺🇸 American English
- 🇬🇧 British English
prefer conversing.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Conversing | Conversating |
| Standard English | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Used in US | ✅ Yes | Rare / Informal |
| Used in UK | ✅ Yes | Rare / Informal |
| Accepted in academic writing | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Dictionary approved | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
So the answer is simple: geography does not change the rule.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Your choice depends on audience and purpose.
If You Are Writing For:
1. United States (US audience)
Use: ✅ Conversing
2. United Kingdom or Commonwealth
Use: ✅ Conversing
3. Global or Professional Audience
Use: ✅ Conversing
When Might Conversating Appear?
- Casual speech
- Social media
- Song lyrics
- Informal dialect
But even then, it may sound incorrect to educated readers.
Professional advice:
Always choose conversing in business emails, academic papers, blogs, and websites.
Common Mistakes with Conversing or Conversating
Here are frequent grammar errors:
1. Using Conversating in Formal Writing
❌ The team was conversating about the issue.
✅ The team was conversing about the issue.
2. Thinking Conversation Requires Conversate
Some assume:
conversation → conversate → conversating
But English does not work that way.
Correct verb: converse
3. Mixing Tenses Incorrectly
❌ We have been conversate.
✅ We have been conversing.
4. Overcorrecting
Some people avoid both words.
But conversing is fully correct and safe to use.
Conversing or Conversating in Everyday Examples
Let’s see real-world usage.
1. Email Example
Formal:
I enjoyed conversing with you about the new project.
Never write:
I enjoyed conversating with you.
2. News Writing
Correct:
The leaders were conversing privately before the meeting.
3. Social Media
Casual:
Just conversing with old friends tonight.
You might see:
We were conversating all night 😂
But remember: it’s informal.
4. Academic Writing
Correct:
Participants were conversing in small groups.
Never use conversating in research papers.
5. Workplace Communication
Correct:
She was conversing with the client.
Professional tone matters.
Conversing or Conversating – Google Trends & Usage Data
Search data shows:
- Conversing is far more common worldwide.
- Conversating appears occasionally in the United States.
- It is rare in the UK and Australia.
On Google Trends, searches for conversing are consistently higher than conversating.
Why?
Because:
- Schools teach conversing
- Dictionaries list conversing
- Professional writing uses conversing
Conversating survives mostly in spoken English and pop culture.
Keyword Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Standard? | Formal Use | Informal Use |
| Conversing | Verb (present participle) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conversating | Nonstandard verb form | No | No | Sometimes |
FAQs
1. Is conversating a real word?
It exists in speech, but it is not accepted as standard English.
2. Why do people say conversating?
It likely formed from the word conversation. People assume a verb form must exist.
3. Is conversating grammatically wrong?
Yes, in formal English it is considered incorrect.
4. Do dictionaries accept conversating?
Major dictionaries like Merriam-Webster and Oxford English Dictionary list it as nonstandard or do not recommend it.
5. Is conversating slang?
Yes, it is often used in informal or dialect speech.
6. Can I use conversating in creative writing?
You can use it in dialogue to show character voice. Avoid it in narration.
7. What is the correct verb for conversation?
The correct verb is converse.
Example:
- We converse every day.
- We are conversing now.
Final Verdict
The answer is clear.
Conversing is correct. Conversating is nonstandard.
The confusion comes from how English forms words. Because we have conversation, some assume conversate must exist. But English history shows that converse is the correct verb.
Both American and British English agree on this rule. Geography does not change it.
If you want to sound:
- Professional
- Educated
- Clear
- Credible
Use conversing.
Language evolves, yes. But until dictionaries and academic style guides accept conversating, it remains informal.
When in doubt, choose the safer word.
Your writing will always benefit from clarity and correctness.
Read More:
Read or Die: Meaning, Usage, and Everything You Need to Know
I’m Daniel Whitmore, a content writer who focuses on English grammar, spelling mistakes, and word usage. I write clear, simple, and helpful articles to make English easier for students, writers, and everyday readers.
