0
Ann225 Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Off topic

When your friend starts talking about school and you want to change the topic, is it correct to say, instead of 'change the topic' or 'go off topic', something like 'deviate from the topic'. I'm not sure about this one as it sounds rather ponderous.

Thank you. I really appreciate your advice.

  

Top answer

"deviate from the topic" is good English, but it doesn't quite mean the same as "change the topic". When we "deviate from the topic", it means we ought to be sticking to the topic but we are inadvertently straying off-course. Maybe we'll return to the topic following the digression.

— GPY

  • "deviate from the topic" is good English, but it doesn't quite mean the same as "change the topic".
  • When we "deviate from the topic", it means we ought to be sticking to the topic but we are inadvertently straying off-course.
  • Maybe we'll return to the topic following the digression.
  • When we "change the topic", it is more of a deliberate and permanent decision.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0

"deviate from the topic" is good English, but it doesn't quite mean the same as "change the topic". When we "deviate from the topic", it means we ought to be sticking to the topic but we are inadvertently straying off-course. Maybe we'll return to the topic following the digression. When we "change the topic", it is more of a deliberate and permanent decision.

0
0
Ann225When your friend starts talking about school and you want to change the topic, is it correct to say, instead of 'change the topic' or 'go off topic', something like 'deviate from the topic'.

It's more correct to say "Change the topic" than either of those substitutions, but even so, it's somewhat rude to interrupt with anything that says your bored wi

0
0
Ann225When your friend starts talking about school and you want to change the topic, is it correct to say, instead of 'change the topic' or 'go off topic', something like 'deviate from the topic'.

Are you proposing to literally say "Change the topic", "Go off topic" or "Deviate from the topic" as a command to your friend? I didn't interepret it that way. I

0

Related Questions