Conversing or Conversating: Which Word Is Correct?

Have you ever written a sentence like “They were conversing” and wondered if “conversating” would work instead? 

You are not alone. The words conversing or conversating often appear together in searches because both seem to describe the act of having a conversation. 

However, they do not have the same status in standard English. 

Conversing is the standard present participle of the verb converse, while conversating comes from the less common verb conversate and is generally treated as informal or nonstandard in professional English. 

The difference can matter when you are writing an email, school assignment, article, report, or other formal text. 

Understanding these forms helps you choose words that fit your audience and purpose. 

In this guide, you will learn what each word means, where the forms came from, how they are used, which form is safer in formal writing, and how their usage differs in everyday speech.

Conversing or Conversating Quick Answer

Conversing is the standard form and is the better choice for formal and professional English.

It comes from the verb converse, which means to talk with someone or have a conversation.

• Correct standard usage: They were conversing about their plans
• Correct standard usage: She enjoys conversing with her colleagues
• Formal: The two researchers were conversing about the results

Conversating comes from the verb conversate. The word exists in English and is found in some informal varieties and speech, but it is much less widely accepted in standard formal English.

For professional writing, use:

converse → conversing

rather than:

conversate → conversating

A simple rule is: When you need standard English, choose “conversing.”

The Origin of Conversing or Conversating

The two forms have different histories.

The origin of “conversing”

Conversing comes from converse, which has a long history in English. 

Oxford traces converse to Middle English, from Old French converser and Latin conversari, meaning to keep company or associate with others. 

The modern sense of talking with someone developed over time.

The verb converse is used with with:

• She was conversing with her friend
• We conversed with the manager
• They were conversing with each other

The present participle is formed in the normal way:

converse → conversing

The final e is dropped before -ing.

The origin of “conversating”

Conversating comes from conversate, a verb formed from the noun conversation. Dictionary sources describe conversate as a back-formation from conversation. 

Historical evidence for the verb goes back at least to the late 19th century, while some modern dictionaries describe it as informal or nonstandard.

The form follows this pattern:

conversate → conversating

The verb appears in some varieties of spoken English and has also appeared in published writing and popular culture. Its presence in real-world English does not mean it has the same level of acceptance as converse.

Therefore, the difference is not simply a spelling mistake. The two forms come from different verb formations and have different levels of acceptance in standard English.

British English vs American English Spelling

Unlike pairs such as colour/color or centre/center, conversing and conversating are not mainly a British-versus-American spelling difference.

The standard form conversing is used in both British and American English.

Form	British English	American English	Standard formal use
conversing	Yes	Yes	Yes
conversate	Rare/nonstandard	Informal/nonstandard in many contexts	Usually avoid
conversating	Rare/informal	Informal/nonstandard in many contexts	Usually avoid
converse	Yes	Yes	Yes
conversation	Yes	Yes	Yes

So, if you are writing for a British, American, Canadian, Australian, or international audience, conversing is the safest standard choice.

Examples

British English:

The students were conversing in the library.

American English:

The students were conversing in the library.

The spelling does not change between the two major varieties.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

The choice depends mainly on your audience and the level of formality.

For American English

Use conversing in essays, business writing, reports, emails, and professional communication.

Example:

The employees were conversing about the new project.

Conversating may appear in informal speech or particular varieties of American English, but it is not the safest choice for standard professional writing.

For British English

Use conversing as well.

Example:

The guests were quietly conversing during dinner.

There is no need to change conversing to another British spelling.

For Commonwealth English

In countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, conversing is also the clearest standard form for formal writing.

For global English

If your readers come from different countries, conversing is the better option because it is widely understood and follows standard English usage.

Best general rule:

Use “conversing” when you want a standard, professional, and widely accepted form.

Common Mistakes with Conversing or Conversating

Several mistakes occur because conversate looks like a normal English verb.

Mistake 1: Using “conversating” in formal writing

Incorrect or unsuitable for most formal contexts:

The managers were conversating about the problem.

Better:

The managers were conversing about the problem.

Mistake 2: Treating the words as spelling variants

Conversing and conversating are not like colour and color. They are based on different verbs.

• converse → conversing
• conversate → conversating

Mistake 3: Using “converse” without “with”

The verb converse commonly takes with when identifying the person involved.

Less natural:

She conversed her teacher.

Better:

She conversed with her teacher.

Mistake 4: Assuming a word is wrong because it sounds unusual

Conversating does appear in real English usage. However, being used by speakers does not automatically make a word appropriate for every setting.

A better question is:

Is this word suitable for my audience and purpose?

For formal writing, conversing is the safer answer.

Mistake 5: Choosing a complicated word when “talking” is clearer

Sometimes the simplest word works best.

Instead of:

The two colleagues were conversing about the project.

You can also write:

The two colleagues were talking about the project.

Both are clear, but talking is more common and informal.

Conversing or Conversating in Everyday Examples

In emails

Professional:

I enjoyed conversing with you about the upcoming project.

Less suitable for formal business writing:

I enjoyed conversating with you about the upcoming project.

For a friendly email, you could simply write:

It was great talking with you.

In news writing

Standard:

The leaders were seen conversing before the meeting.

News writing generally favors familiar and standard vocabulary.

On social media

You may see:

We were just conversating about old times.

This can reflect informal speech or a particular style of English. Social media allows much more variation than formal writing.

In formal writing

Use:

The participants were conversing about the proposed changes.

Or, for greater simplicity:

The participants were discussing the proposed changes.

In everyday speech

People may use talking, chatting, speaking, or conversing, depending on the situation.

Examples:

• We were talking after class
• They were chatting in the kitchen
• She was speaking with her manager
• The guests were conversing quietly

Conversing or Conversating Comparison Table

Feature	Conversing	Conversating
Base verb	converse	conversate
Meaning	Having a conversation	Having a conversation
Standard English	Yes	Usually not considered standard
Formal writing	Recommended	Usually avoid
Informal speech	Yes	Sometimes used
Social media	Common	May appear
British English	Used	Rare/informal
American English	Used	Used in some informal varieties
Professional emails	Recommended	Avoid
Academic writing	Recommended	Avoid
Simple alternative	talking	talking

Conversing or Conversating Google Trends & Usage Data

People often search “conversing or conversating” because the second form looks like a natural verb created from conversation. 

The search itself reflects a common language question: people want to know whether a form they have heard or seen is acceptable in standard English.

Google Trends allows users to compare search interest by country, region, and time period. 

It also allows searches to be compared directly, although Google Trends measures relative search interest rather than the total number of words used in everyday speech or writing.

For this reason, search interest should not be treated as proof that one word is grammatically correct or more commonly spoken.

The usage pattern can also vary by context:

• Academic writing: conversing is the safer standard form
• Business writing: conversing is preferred
• News writing: conversing is more suitable
• Social media: conversating may appear
• Informal speech: both forms may be heard
• International English: conversing is easier to recommend

Search behavior can also change by country and audience. 

Google Trends provides country-level and regional filters, so a writer researching this topic can compare markets separately rather than assuming that one country’s search behavior represents the whole English-speaking world.

The key point is simple: Google searches show what people are asking about, not necessarily what formal English recommends.

FAQs About Conversing or Conversating

1. Is “conversing” correct?

Yes. Conversing is the standard present participle of converse.

Example:

They were conversing about the new plan.

2. Is “conversating” a real word?

Yes, conversate and conversating occur in English usage. However, they are much less accepted in standard formal English than converse and conversing. Some dictionaries and usage sources classify the forms as informal or nonstandard.

3. Should I use “conversing” in an essay?

Yes. Conversing is the safer choice for academic and formal writing.

4. Is “conversating” grammatically correct?

It can occur as the present participle of conversate, but its status differs from standard conversing. For formal English, use conversing instead.

5. Is “conversing” British or American?

Conversing is used in both British and American English. It is not a British-versus-American spelling difference.

6. Can I use “conversating” on social media?

You may encounter conversating on social media and in informal speech. Whether you use it depends on the style and audience. For polished professional content, conversing is safer.

7. What is a simple alternative to “conversing”?

The simplest alternatives are talking, speaking, and chatting, depending on the context.

For example:

We were conversing after the meeting.

can become:

We were talking after the meeting.

Conclusion

When choosing between conversing or conversating, the safest standard form is conversing. 

It comes from the established verb converse, meaning to talk or have a conversation with someone. 

It works naturally in British English, American English, Commonwealth English, academic writing, business communication, and other formal settings.

Conversating is not simply an alternative spelling of conversing. It comes from conversate, a less common verb formed from conversation. 

The form appears in informal speech, social media, popular culture, and some varieties of English, but it is not the best choice when you need polished standard English.

For essays, reports, professional emails, websites, and formal documents, choose conversing. If you want a simpler everyday word, talking is often even more natural.

The easy rule to remember is:

converse → conversing

When in doubt, use conversing.