a main contention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a main contention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a primary argument or point of disagreement in a debate, essay, or discussion. Example: "In her essay, she presents a main contention that climate change is primarily driven by human activity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A federal judge has thrown out a main contention by Johnson & Johnson in a lawsuit against the American Red Cross over use of the red cross symbol.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Instead, his sidekick Ann Curry took on Brick and did a job that paradoxically underlined Brick's main contention: that a woman's toughest critic is another woman.

The Guardian

While accepting Eliot's main contention that a classic is the mature cultural product of a mature civilisation, Kermode adds a typically complicating spin.

The Guardian - Books

However, as we have shown in Appendix A, relaxing this assumption does not alter our main contention in any qualitative way.

Health Economics Review

Mr. Heldman did not get a chance to bring up another main contention of Mr. Siegelman's defenders, that the appointments of political contributors are routine in American politics.

The New York Times

In a seemingly powerful series of arguments, Mr. Stillman contested the validity of board minutes that were entered into evidence in an effort to undercut a main prosecution contention -- that no minutes existed showing approval of millions of dollars in bonuses the two executives received.

The New York Times

"The main contention is that this is a religious place.

Independent

The main contention against the proposal was a clause that would place workers hired after January 2012 in a retirement plan based on company contributions instead of in a traditional pension.

The New York Times

They concluded that Ms. Tymoshenko's conviction was supported by the evidence presented at trial, and they found no evidence in the trial record to support to her main contention: that her prosecution was a politically motivated effort by Mr. Yanukovich, her archrival, to sideline her and cripple Ukraine's main opposition party.

The New York Times

Geach's main contention is that any expression for an absolute equivalence relation in any possible language will have the null class as its extension, and so there can be no expression for classical identity in any possible language.

SEP

However, the issue of home rule for Ireland was the main contention, with Conservatives looking to exempt such a law from the Parliament Act procedure by means of a general exception for "constitutional" or "structural" bills.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a main contention", ensure it clearly represents the central argument or disagreement in your writing. Supporting evidence should directly relate to this contention.

Common error

Avoid using "a main contention" for minor points. Reserve it for arguments that are truly central to the discussion, otherwise, you may inflate the importance of secondary points.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a main contention" functions as a noun phrase that introduces a central argument or point of disagreement in a discussion, debate, or written work. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a main contention" is a grammatically sound phrase used to introduce a primary argument or point of disagreement. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, the phrase appears relatively rarely in diverse contexts, primarily in news, scientific, and encyclopedic sources. When employing this phrase, ensure it accurately represents the core argument of your discussion. Alternatives such as "a central argument" or "a primary claim" can be used to vary your writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a central argument

Replaces "contention" with "argument", emphasizing the core point being made.

a key assertion

Substitutes "contention" with "assertion", highlighting a strong statement or claim.

a primary claim

Uses "claim" instead of "contention", focusing on a statement presented as true.

a core belief

Replaces contention with belief, to highlight a fundamental principle that someone holds.

a chief disagreement

Focuses on the aspect of disagreement inherent in the "contention".

a leading dispute

Emphasizes the controversial aspect of the contention by using "dispute".

a principal thesis

Uses "thesis" to refer to the main argument, especially in academic contexts.

a crucial issue

Shifts the focus to the importance of the point being contended.

a significant point of discussion

Expands the phrase to highlight its role in a larger discussion.

a critical bone of contention

Adds emphasis to the contentious nature of the point by using "bone of contention".

FAQs

How can I use "a main contention" in a sentence?

You can use "a main contention" to introduce a primary argument or point of disagreement. For example, "A main contention in the debate was the economic impact of the proposed policy."

What are some alternatives to "a main contention"?

Alternatives include "a central argument", "a key assertion", or "a primary claim", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "main contention" or "primary contention"?

"Main contention" and "primary contention" are often interchangeable, but "main" is slightly more common and generally preferred for its simplicity and directness.

How does "a main contention" differ from "an underlying assumption"?

"A main contention" is a direct argument or point of disagreement, whereas "an underlying assumption" is an implicit belief or premise that supports an argument but is not explicitly stated or debated.