contested question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contested question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a question or issue that is subject to disagreement or debate among different parties. Example: "The existence of extraterrestrial life remains a contested question among scientists and researchers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Even that is a bitterly contested question.

The Economist

Just how immutable homosexuality is remains a hotly contested question.

The New Yorker

Debate on this hotly contested question has persisted, in one form or another, for about 40 years.

Nature

The findings won't say whether cellphones are safe or dangerous, or if they can cause cancer — a hotly contested question that top scientific organizations say is still uncertain.

The Washington Post

With the exception of the presidential election, the most hotly contested question on the Supreme Court recently has been the constitutional status of the New Deal.

The New York Times - Books

C4 A Test for Antitrust Laws The second week of arguments begins over what penalties Microsoft should face for repeatedly violating antitrust laws, and the federal judge presiding over the trial in Washington has postponed ruling on the case's most contested question: how broad is the scope of this remedy proceeding?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

BEIJING — When the Australian government set out to write a new foreign policy paper, it faced hotly contested questions shaping the country's future: Will China replace the United States as the dominant power in Asia?

The New York Times

A disclosure regime could improve animal welfare without making it necessary to resolve the most deeply contested questions in this domain.

University of Chicago

A closely related point is that the prevailing view of conflicts-of-interest is one-sided and naïve and represents a major obstacle to achieving rationality in the public discussion of hotly contested questions like glyphosate.

Forbes

But such reports had proved too plastic and easily biased by different laboratories' training to settle contested questions, such as whether pleasure and pain are specific sensations, elements of mind of a kind distinct from sensations, or 'hedonic tones' incapable of independent existence but qualifying other introspected elements of mind (Beebe-Center 1932; Alston 1967, pp. 333-34).

SEP

Whether signatures can be revoked has been one of the most bitterly contested questions surrounding the state's pioneering parent trigger law, which allows parents at persistently low-performing schools to petition to overhaul staff and curriculum, close the campus or turn management over to a charter operator.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contested question" when you want to highlight that there are differing opinions or disagreements about a specific question or issue. It's effective in academic papers, news articles, and formal discussions where objectivity is important.

Common error

Avoid using "contested question" in casual conversations or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "disputed issue" or "open question" would be more appropriate. Overusing formal language can make your communication sound stilted or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contested question" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "contested" modifies the noun "question". It describes a question that is subject to disagreement or debate. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contested question" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a question or issue that is subject to disagreement or debate. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness for written English. As evidenced by the examples, it appears frequently in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context is appropriate for a neutral to formal register. Consider alternatives like "debatable issue" or "disputed point" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disputed point

Replaces 'question' with 'point', focusing on a specific item of disagreement.

debatable issue

Substitutes 'question' with 'issue', emphasizing the subject of discussion.

contentious topic

Changes 'question' to 'topic', highlighting the controversial nature of the subject.

hotly debated matter

Replaces both 'contested' and 'question' with terms that convey strong disagreement and discussion.

arguable point

Similar to 'disputed point' but emphasizes that the issue is open to argument.

unsettled issue

Focuses on the lack of resolution rather than the active contestation.

moot question

Indicates a question that is academic or hypothetical and not practically significant.

unresolved problem

Shifts the focus from a question to a problem that has not been solved.

open question

Emphasizes that the question is still under consideration and has no definitive answer.

up for debate

An idiomatic expression indicating that the question is currently being debated or discussed.

FAQs

How can I use "contested question" in a sentence?

You can use "contested question" to refer to an issue or topic about which there is significant disagreement or debate. For example: "The ethical implications of AI remain a "contested question" among researchers."

What can I say instead of "contested question"?

You can use alternatives like "debatable issue", "disputed point", or "contentious topic" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "contested question" or "contestable question"?

"Contested question" is generally preferred when referring to a matter currently under debate. "Contestable question" is less common, but it could describe a question that is capable of being contested or challenged.

What's the difference between "contested question" and "unresolved issue"?

A ""contested question"" implies active disagreement and debate surrounding a specific query. An "unresolved issue" suggests a problem or matter that hasn't been settled or solved, but not necessarily actively disputed.