controversial behavior

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "controversial behavior" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or conduct that provoke disagreement or debate among people. Example: "The politician's controversial behavior during the debate sparked outrage among voters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The faculty's distrust of the investigation, according to Pisoni and Sperber, has as much to do with the trustees conducting it as with Knight's past controversial behavior.

The New York Times - Sports

And because of this, the weather and more controversial behavior by the snowboarders, the sport got only slightly more prime-time coverage than curling.

The New York Times - Magazine

For example, an organisation might take five positive actions such as giving more than 1.5% of its earnings to charity, then subsquently engage in controversial behavior that negatively affects a community's economics (eg reducing property value within a community).

The Guardian

When President Felipe Calderón declared he was "very indignant," I thought of Claude Rains in Casablanca: "I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!" Walmart already had a history of controversial behavior in Mexico.

The New York Times

The Mets, the Yankees, the Orioles, the Blue Jays, the Angels and the White Sox are teams that could have interest in Ramírez, who grew up in Washington Heights in Manhattan, but they will certainly be wary with his age and track record of controversial behavior in Boston.

The New York Times

If Moss has a place within the national consciousness apart from his ability to catch footballs, it has been shaped by a career-long string of controversial behavior, much of which can reasonably be tied to the fact that his talent was sufficient to buy him multiple chances.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

This result is especially important in the context of the complex contagion hypothesis, which posits that repeated exposures to controversial behaviors are essential to the adoption of these behaviors.

EPJ Data Science

Beddington-DeAngelis functional response has desirable qualitative features of ratio dependent form but takes care of their controversial behaviors at low densities and it has an extra term in the denominator modeling mutual interference among predators.

Advances in Difference Equations

After viewing excerpts of the show on Showtime's Web site, one feminist scholar said that the series seems to want to do for prostitution what HBO's "Big Love" does for polygamy -- presenting a sanitized version of controversial sexual behavior.

The New York Times

In August, when Tom Cruise's production deal with Paramount Pictures, Viacom's film division, ended, Sumner Redstone, the chairman of Viacom, mentioned Cruise's controversial public behavior, which, he said, hurt the box-office for Paramount's summer release of the third "Mission: Impossible" movie.

The New Yorker

We therefore address the critical question as to the degree to which they begin to capture the experimentally observed, albeit controversial, deformation behavior of real nanocrystalline materials.

Acta Materialia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "controversial behavior", provide specific details or examples to clarify what actions are being referred to. This adds context and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "controversial behavior" without providing context. Readers need to understand which specific actions are considered controversial to grasp the full meaning and implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "controversial behavior" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject of a sentence. It describes actions or conduct that are subject to disagreement or disapproval, Ludwig AI indicates that is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

29%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "controversial behavior" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes actions or conduct that provoke disagreement or disapproval. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It appears frequently in news, media and scientific contexts, denoting actions that challenge norms or incite debate. While neutral in register, its usage often implies a critical or analytical perspective. Alternative phrases like "contentious actions" or "debatable conduct" can provide nuanced variations depending on the specific context. When using this phrase, it is crucial to provide specific examples to avoid vagueness and ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contentious actions

Focuses on the actions themselves being disputed.

debatable conduct

Emphasizes that the conduct is open to debate and disagreement.

disputed behavior

Highlights that the behavior is being questioned or challenged.

questionable actions

Suggests that the actions are of doubtful morality or legality.

scandalous conduct

Implies that the conduct is shocking and morally offensive.

unacceptable behavior

Indicates that the behavior is not tolerable or permitted.

provocative actions

Emphasizes that the actions are intended to cause a reaction or controversy.

objectionable conduct

Suggests that the conduct is offensive or unpleasant.

problematic behavior

Highlights that the behavior causes difficulties or problems.

inappropriate actions

Indicates that the actions are not suitable for a particular situation.

FAQs

How can I use "controversial behavior" in a sentence?

You can use "controversial behavior" to describe actions that cause disagreement or strong opposition. For example, "The politician's "controversial behavior" during the debate sparked outrage."

What are some alternatives to "controversial behavior"?

You can use alternatives like "contentious actions", "debatable conduct", or "disputed behavior" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "controversial behavior" or "controversial actions"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "controversial behavior" is generally broader, encompassing a range of actions and conduct. "Controversial actions" is more specific to particular acts.

What makes certain behavior considered "controversial"?

Behavior becomes "controversial" when it violates established norms, challenges prevailing beliefs, or provokes strong disagreement among different groups of people.