ancillary issues

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ancillary issues" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to secondary or supplementary matters that are related to a primary topic or issue. Example: "While discussing the main project, we should also address the ancillary issues that may affect its success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

What's more, the players and owners nailed the ancillary issues.

The New York Times

His disdain for the ancillary issues that fill up the days between games is obvious.

The New York Times - Sports

The Yankees are used to dealing with ancillary issues at the start of spring training.

The New York Times

Groh has treated ancillary issues - Bill Belichick, Keyshawn Johnson - as if they were deadly germs.

The New York Times - Sports

Throw in a few more votes on ancillary issues and that's all she wrote".

The New Yorker

And then come the ancillary issues of schools, roads, traffic, water and sewers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Across the board, Baltimore's depth is a little meeker than usual, but that's an ancillary issue.

The New York Times

"This generation understands much better than those that have gone before, including ours, that this is not just some ancillary issue," she said.

The Guardian

Yet for many in Santa Fe, that came to be seen as an ancillary issue, one that inevitably led to fruitless discussions in which opposing sides cited conflicting studies or anecdotal evidence.

The New York Times

That exchange shouldn't take long, but the union gave the league an ancillary issue to ponder yesterday, announcing that an overwhelming majority of players in the N.B.A. women's league have agreed to form a union and have the National Basketball Players Association as their collective bargaining representative.

The New York Times - Sports

This violence is not just an ancillary issue that affects "those" people, and it definitely doesn't increase our safety.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When addressing complex problems, use "ancillary issues" to categorize supporting or less critical points, helping to streamline discussions and decision-making.

Common error

Avoid dismissing "ancillary issues" as completely irrelevant. While they might not be central, they can still impact the main issue and deserve consideration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ancillary issues" functions as a noun phrase, where 'ancillary' acts as an adjective modifying the noun 'issues.' As supported by Ludwig AI, it typically identifies and categorizes secondary, supplementary, or related concerns that are not central to the primary topic.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ancillary issues" refers to secondary or supporting matters related to a primary topic. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic discussions. While not central, these issues are important for a comprehensive understanding and should not be overlooked. Alternatives include "supplementary issues" and "secondary concerns". When writing, be mindful of the distinction between "ancillary" and "irrelevant", ensuring that related but less critical points are still given appropriate consideration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supplementary issues

Focuses on the idea of being additional or extra.

secondary concerns

Emphasizes the lower importance compared to primary issues.

related matters

Highlights the connection or association with a main topic.

peripheral topics

Suggests a position on the edge or outside the main focus.

incidental aspects

Implies that the issues are occurring by chance or without intention.

attendant details

Stresses that these details accompany or are associated with the main issues.

supporting points

Highlights that these issues provide support for the main argument.

minor factors

Emphasizes that these are small contributing components.

additional considerations

Focuses on the act of thinking about or taking into account extra elements.

associated elements

Stresses the connection and relationship with the primary subject.

FAQs

How can I use "ancillary issues" in a sentence?

"Ancillary issues" can be used to describe secondary or supporting points related to a main topic. For example, "While the main focus is on budget allocation, we must also consider the "ancillary issues" of staff training and resource management".

What is a good alternative to "ancillary issues"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "supplementary issues", "secondary concerns", or "related matters".

Are "ancillary issues" always unimportant?

No, "ancillary issues" are not always unimportant. They are secondary, but they can still have a significant impact on the primary issue. Ignoring them can sometimes lead to problems.

What's the difference between "ancillary issues" and "main issues"?

"Main issues" are the central and most important topics under discussion, while "ancillary issues" are related but less critical points that support or influence the main issues.