a subject of contentious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a subject of contentious" is not correct in English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression; the correct form would typically be "a contentious subject" or "a subject of contention." Example: "The debate over climate change is a contentious subject that often divides opinions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The methodology involved in internet polling is still a subject of contentious debate among survey professionals.

Cornell University

She discovered that prosody, the apparently fixed set of rules for reading poetry, was a subject of contentious debate often tied to issues of class and national identity.

Princeton University

But for the foreseeable future, the specific character of that role and the way that dams will interrelate with the environment will likely remain a subject of contentious debate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It will be fascinating to see if the increasing presence in print publications of ads for Newport cigarettes, which is the brand that is running in Parade and other magazines, will reignite this issue as a subject of contentious debate.

The New York Times

Increasingly, this sentiment has been echoed on WeChat, China's most popular social-media platform, and across various forums in which the U.S. election is a subject of contentious discussion.

The New Yorker

The privatization of prisons has drawn criticism from human rights groups, citing concerns over incarceration of citizens for profit, and is a subject of contentious public debate.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

How many there were, and where they ended up remains a subject of highly contentious historical and religious debate.

The Guardian

Disputes about gender discrimination, holiday entitlement and whether obesity constitutes a disability have also been the subject of contentious hearings.

The Guardian

He would need to assemble a group of very a senior executives in order to say, "I need an emergency approval to agree to something that will force us to write off billions of dollars on a deal that's been the subject of contentious negotiations for the past fifteen months.

Huffington Post

During the Reformation, the mystery of the Eucharist was the subject of contentious debate and a nexus of concerns over how the material might embody the sublime and how the absent might be made present.

University of Pennsylvania

His death prompted whistle-blowers to reveal the origin of the guns and the nature of the failed investigation, which became the subject of contentious Congressional hearings and a scathing report by the Justice Department's inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using the corrected phrase "a contentious subject" or "a subject of contention" for clarity and grammatical accuracy in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid placing the adjective after "subject of" if it directly describes the subject. The correct order is generally "a contentious subject".

Linguistic Context

The phrase, while grammatically incorrect, attempts to function as a noun phrase identifying a topic characterized by disagreement or controversy. The intended meaning is to denote a subject that is actively debated or disputed. Ludwig AI points out the grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a subject of contentious" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct forms are "a contentious subject" or "a subject of contention". Although examples exist, primarily in news, academic, and wiki contexts, it's advisable to use the corrected versions for clearer and more accurate communication. While the intention is to identify a topic of disagreement, the flawed grammar undermines its effectiveness in formal writing. Consider alternatives like "a controversial topic" or "a matter of dispute" for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a contentious subject

Reverses the order for a more standard and grammatically sound phrasing.

a subject of contention

Substitutes "contentious" with "contention", focusing on the state of dispute itself.

a matter of dispute

Replaces "subject" with "matter", emphasizing the issue being debated.

a controversial topic

Uses "controversial" to highlight the polarizing nature of the subject.

a point of disagreement

Focuses on the lack of consensus surrounding the subject.

an issue of contention

Emphasizes that the subject is a specific problem or point of conflict.

a bone of contention

An idiomatic expression indicating a persistent and significant source of conflict.

a debated issue

Highlights the active discussion and opposing viewpoints surrounding the subject.

a source of conflict

Focuses on the subject's role in creating disagreement or opposition.

a point of controversy

Stresses the divisive and often public nature of the subject.

FAQs

What's the correct way to phrase "a subject of contentious"?

The correct and more common phrasing is "a contentious subject" or "a subject of contention".

What does it mean for something to be "a contentious subject"?

It means that the topic or issue is one that people strongly disagree about, leading to debate and argument.

Can I use "a subject of contentious" in formal writing?

It's best to avoid "a subject of contentious" in formal writing. Use the corrected version, such as "a contentious subject" or "a subject of contention", to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.

What are some synonyms for "a contentious subject"?

Alternatives include "a controversial topic", "a matter of dispute", or "an issue of contention".