controversial of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'controversial of' is not correct in written English.
To use the phrase 'controversial' in a sentence correctly, you could use it as an adjective. For example, "The article discussed the controversial topic of climate change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Roe has long been controversial, of course.

The New Yorker

They were always controversial, of course.

The New Yorker

July's People is perhaps the most controversial of her novels.

The Guardian - Books

And most controversial of all, she is mixed race.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The most controversial of those deals is also the largest.

The New York Times

But the travel provisions are the most controversial of the new measures.

The New York Times

There, far from the other ministers, the most controversial of bailouts was decided on.

The Guardian

The most controversial of the reforms was the removal of a fuel subsidy.

The Guardian

And of course they were controversial, of course they were offensive.

The Guardian

This book urges us to reflect on that, and more, in the most controversial of ways.

The Guardian

But Summers also reignited the most controversial of debates: the neurological divide between men and women.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "controversial of". Rephrase your sentence to use "controversial" as an adjective directly modifying the noun (e.g., "the controversial decision") or use phrases like "subject of controversy".

Common error

Don't use "controversial" directly followed by "of" to describe a noun. Instead, correctly structure your sentence by using "controversial" as an adjective before the noun or using an appropriate prepositional phrase such as "subject of controversy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "controversial of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect as per Ludwig AI. While "controversial" functions as an adjective, this particular construction misplaces it within a prepositional phrase where it doesn't properly modify a noun. This contrasts with grammatically sound constructions like "the most controversial of" where "controversial" correctly modifies the implied noun within the group.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "controversial of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As indicated by Ludwig AI, "controversial" should typically be used as an adjective directly modifying a noun, or within a phrase like "the most controversial of". While examples of its usage appear across various sources including news media and encyclopedias, it's best to avoid this construction in formal writing. Instead, consider alternatives such as "subject of controversy" or rephrasing to use "controversial" as a direct adjective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly controversial

Emphasizes the intensity of the controversy.

subject of controversy

Focuses on the thing that is at the center of the controversy.

widely debated

Focuses on the extensive discussion surrounding the topic.

divisive topic

Highlights the polarizing nature of the subject, emphasizing how it causes division.

much disputed

Highlights the disagreement and contention involved.

hotly contested

Highlights the intensity of the disagreement and competition surrounding the issue.

contentious issue

Shifts from describing something as "controversial of" to identifying the subject as a contentious matter.

matter of debate

Emphasizes the ongoing discussion and lack of consensus.

open to debate

Emphasizes the openness and accessibility of the controversial topic for discussion.

under scrutiny

Highlights that something is being examined closely and critically.

FAQs

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

Use "controversial" as an adjective directly preceding the noun it modifies (e.g., "a controversial policy"). Avoid using the phrase "controversial of".

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "controversial of"?

Instead of "controversial of", you can use phrases like "subject of controversy", "matter of debate", or simply use "controversial" as an adjective.

Is it grammatically correct to say "the most controversial of"?

While the phrase "the most controversial of" is grammatically sound and commonly used to compare items within a group, the use of "controversial of" on its own is not.

Which is correct: "controversial topic" or "topic controversial of"?

"Controversial topic" is correct. The adjective "controversial" should precede the noun "topic". The construction "topic controversial of" is grammatically incorrect.