enable the debate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "enable the debate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the facilitation or initiation of a discussion or argument on a particular topic. Example: "The new policy changes are designed to enable the debate on climate change and its impact on our environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Formal establishment of such a system should enable the debate regarding chemical studies to move beyond funding issues and focus on scientific merit.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Such a structure enables the debating chamber to span over 30 metres (100 ft) without any supporting columns.

Wikipedia

We want the publication of this report to enable the public debate to continue about the future of England's woods and forests, and the social, environmental and economic opportunities that they can deliver.

The Guardian

Doing so will enable the public and professional debate to move to where we believe it should be - a discussion about what we are prepared to do and what we are prepared to give up, in order to expand our transplantation programs.

Critical Care

But in recent days, as the Parliament has debated legislation to enable the naval deployment, senior Komeito members have signaled their willingness to allow broad leeway for the use of weapons by Japanese forces.

The New York Times

The Big Lottery fund should, as a influential funder, organise a debate on how to enable the redesign of infrastructure.

The Guardian

Tap "Enable" button to enable the smartwatch.

WikiHow

"One thing I'm certain of, this debate will make us stronger," he pronounced, while still seeking to imprison for decades the whistleblower who enabled that debate.

The Guardian - Opinion

The committees said they now intended to seek a backbench debate to enable MPs to "debate the government's resistance to full parliamentary involvement in this complex and highly significant decision".

BBC

- (PT) Madam President, I firstly want to thank my fellow Members and also the Commissioner for their words today and for their contributions which have enabled this debate to assume even greater consequence.

EU Parlament

Initiating the post-courtroom discussions can be influential, enabling the speaker to shape the debate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "enable the debate" when you want to emphasize creating the conditions or means for a discussion to occur, particularly in contexts where it might not otherwise happen.

Common error

Avoid using "enable the debate" when simply meaning to allow or permit a discussion. "Enable" implies more active facilitation, whereas "allow" is more passive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enable the debate" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "enable" acts as a transitive verb taking "the debate" as its object. It indicates the act of making a discussion or argument possible or easier. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of this phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "enable the debate" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of making a discussion possible or easier. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It finds frequent use in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Scientific publications. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, it implies a more active facilitation of discussion than a simple allowance. Alternatives such as "facilitate the discussion" or "promote the dialogue" can be used to provide similar meanings with nuanced differences. When using the phrase, it's important to ensure it truly reflects an active effort to create conditions for debate, rather than a passive permission. Understanding this distinction ensures effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

facilitate the discussion

Focuses on making the discussion easier to conduct.

promote the dialogue

Emphasizes encouraging a two-way exchange of ideas.

foster the exchange of views

Highlights nurturing a mutual sharing of perspectives.

stimulate the conversation

Suggests sparking or energizing the discussion.

encourage the discourse

A more formal way of saying encourage the discussion.

open up the discussion

Focuses on making the discussion possible or accessible.

create space for debate

Highlights providing an opportunity for debate.

pave the way for discussion

Suggests preparing conditions suitable for discussion.

initiate the conversation

Focuses on starting or beginning the conversation.

catalyze the dialogue

Suggests accelerating and transforming the discussion.

FAQs

How can I use "enable the debate" in a sentence?

You can use "enable the debate" to describe actions that facilitate or make a discussion possible. For example, "Publishing this data will enable the debate about climate change policies."

What's a good alternative to "enable the debate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "facilitate the discussion", "promote the dialogue", or "foster the exchange of views".

Is it better to say "enable a debate" or "enable the debate"?

"Enable the debate" is generally used when referring to a specific discussion or controversy. "Enable a debate" is used when speaking more generally about initiating discussions on a topic.

What is the difference between "enable the debate" and "allow the debate"?

"Enable the debate" suggests actively creating the conditions for a discussion to happen, while "allow the debate" simply means not preventing it. The former implies more active involvement.