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  • Let's discuss this with him
  • Let's discuss with him

are both of them grammatically correct?

A grammar checker pointed out a flaw in "Let's discuss with him" and suggested adding "this" mentioning "correcting pronoun usage"

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    To discuss is rarely used intransitively in English, so although strictly speaking your usage is "syntactically valid", it's sufficiently "abnormal" for your grammar checker to question it. Most online dictionaries only define the transitive use, so that should have given you a clue that your grammar checker wasn't acting randomly.
    – FumbleFingers
    Feb 10 at 18:20
  • Let's discuss. written at the bottom or in the margin of a memo. However, not in regular written English. with him only if the he is known to the parties.
    – Lambie
    Feb 10 at 21:14
  • English is less strict than some languages and it's often possible to elide the object of a transitive verb, especially in casual or note forms. You don't provide a context/style/register though - more appropriate in an IM than a formal letter.
    – Stuart F
    Feb 10 at 22:21
  • @Lambie I like that example. Another idiomatic use of intransitive "discuss": youtube.com/watch?v=58grYzCcfHI (at 1:15 and 3:20)
    – MarcInManhattan
    Feb 10 at 23:12

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As the comment by FumbleFingers indicates, the verb "discuss" is usually used in a transitive sense in English, where the topic of discussion is mentioned, as in

  • Let's discuss the problem with him.
  • Let's discuss this with him.

That sort of use is the normal and common use of "discuss".

It is possible to use that verb intransitively, as in:

Let's discuss with him.

that usage is grammatically valid, and is used under some circumstances. The meaning is slightly different, as that form indicates a general discussion, or perhaps that the subject was previously mentioned and is already known to the listener. This usage is acceptable, but is significantly less common among fluent speakers.

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  • I wish that any downvoters would leave a comment indicting what they think is wrong with this answer. In the absence of a comment, I cannot improve the answer, others cannot use the reasons to write better answers, and readers have no idea why someone objects to the answer. Such a downvote seems pointless.
    – David Siegel
    Feb 10 at 23:59

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