basis for controversy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "basis for controversy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, topic, or issue that is likely to provoke disagreement or debate. Example: "The new policy has become a basis for controversy among community members, sparking heated discussions at town hall meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wikipedia

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Breast Cancer Research

Environmental Health Perspectives

Independent

HuffPost

Harvard University

Encyclopedia Britannica

The New York Times - Sports

The Guardian

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One of the songs that was the basis for controversy was Wedding Dress where Webb compares Christians who seek fulfillment in things outside of Christ to a person committing adultery.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The main basis for the controversy has been the disagreement over the level of specialization in these plant pollinator interactions and the role of pollinator shifts versus coevolution in shaping traits (Wasserthal 1997; Whittall and Hodges 2007).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

In fact, the relative risk estimates and projections shown in Table 1 apparently capture the basis for the controversy over the fat and breast cancer hypothesis.

Breast Cancer Research

One basis for this controversy is related to the issue of selective estrogen receptor modulators estrogens whose effects can differ markedly in different tissues and at different times in life (Welshons et al. 2006).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Therein lies the basis for a polarising controversy.

Independent

While the DNA test results formed the basis for even more controversy about Bigfoot and raised credibility issues about Ketchum's research methods, an online group, Facebook/FindBigfoot offered recent Bigfoot images and videos.

HuffPost

1868 (describing a basis for jurisdiction where "a controversy is related to or 'arises out of a defendant's contacts with the forum").

Harvard University

When Charles used Bucer's rather far-reaching concessions in his secret negotiations with the liberal Catholics as the basis for an official solution of the controversy over the Reformation, Bucer, taken by surprise, denied any participation in a scheme for union.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The events of May 10 and 11, 1996, on the Southeast Ridge, the basis for "Into Thin Air," are not without controversy.

The New York Times - Sports

Given the controversy surrounding the legal basis for action, it is likely that the Court will scrutinise any allegations of war crimes by UK forces very closely.

The Guardian

The Becket controversy also forms the basis for T. S. Eliot's play Murder in the Cathedral, where the tensions between Henry and Becket form the basis both for a discussion of the more superficial events of Becket's death, and Eliot's deeper religious interpretation of the episode.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "basis for controversy", ensure you clearly define what the "basis" is and what "controversy" it leads to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the extent of the "controversy". Accurately represent the level of disagreement and avoid sensationalizing the issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "basis for controversy" functions as a noun phrase that identifies the foundation or reason that underlies a disagreement or contentious issue. As indicated by Ludwig, it is usable and correct in written English. Ludwig's examples demonstrate how it's used to pinpoint the core reason for differing opinions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "basis for controversy" correctly identifies the foundation of a disagreement. While not overly common, it's grammatically sound and readily understood. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable and correct. Usage spans neutral and professional contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic discussions, and its usage should be carefully tailored to ensure clarity and avoid overstating the extent of the controversy. Related phrases include "source of contention" and "reason for the dispute", offering alternative ways to express a similar idea. When using the phrase, make sure the reason and the controversy are clearly defined to ensure accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reason for the dispute

Replaces "basis" with "reason" and "controversy" with "dispute", offering a slightly less formal alternative.

source of contention

Uses "source" instead of "basis" and "contention" instead of "controversy", providing a more concise option.

root of the disagreement

Emphasizes the origin of the disagreement, substituting "basis" with "root" and "controversy" with "disagreement".

cause of the debate

Focuses on the causal aspect of the controversy, replacing "basis" with "cause" and "controversy" with "debate".

grounds for argument

Highlights the justification for the argument, changing "basis" to "grounds" and "controversy" to "argument".

impetus for conflict

Suggests a driving force behind the conflict, substituting "basis" with "impetus" and "controversy" with "conflict".

foundation for the quarrel

Emphasizes the underlying structure of the quarrel, replacing "basis" with "foundation" and "controversy" with "quarrel".

nub of the issue

Identifies the central point of the issue, offering a more informal alternative to "basis for controversy".

underlying reason for the conflict

Stresses the fundamental reason for the conflict, adding "underlying" to emphasize the deeper cause.

core of the dispute

Highlights the central part of the dispute, replacing "basis" with "core" and "controversy" with "dispute".

FAQs

How can I use "basis for controversy" in a sentence?

You can use "basis for controversy" to describe the reason or foundation behind a disagreement. For example, "The scientist's controversial study became the "basis for controversy" among researchers."

What's a more formal alternative to "basis for controversy"?

A more formal alternative to "basis for controversy" could be "source of contention" or "root of the disagreement", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "basis for controversy" the same as "cause of controversy"?

While similar, "basis for controversy" refers to the underlying reason or foundation, whereas "cause of the debate" more directly points to the event or factor that initiated the disagreement.

What phrases are similar to "basis for controversy"?

Similar phrases include "reason for the dispute", "grounds for argument", and "impetus for conflict", each carrying slightly different connotations.