focal issue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'focal issue' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to an important topic, issue, or theme. For example: "The focal issue of the meeting was how to improve public transportation services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

As a young congressman, he made housing his focal issue.

The New York Times

Why, then, has the economy not taken root as the focal issue of the campaign?

The New York Times

A focal issue in the case has been Mr. Tankleff's persona.

The New York Times

This pressure became the focal issue in an otherwise lackluster election campaign.

The New York Times

Manchester and other cities have agreed to changes including elected mayors in return for control over local financing and transport, with buses a focal issue.

The Guardian

The focal issue was a 54.8percentt rise in the last year in fuel oil costs for heat and hot water, which the landlords said justified their call for sharply higher rents.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

The environmental groups here play the roles of both advocate and expert, given that they follow the focal issues year after year.

The New York Times - Science

The British government has tried to make tax, trade and transparency - the so-called "Three Ts" - focal issues of the two-day gathering.

BBC

Making use of data on the German hospital market, this paper addresses focal issues regarding the definition of the product market and the geographic market.

Health Economics Review

Finally, hedonic benefits of VCEs may originate from pleasant experiences in conversing with one another about common interested focal issues [34], or the problem solving ability may also be a source of mental stimulation that forms another type of hedonic benefits [6].

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

The use of subregions was necessitated by focal issues from cell sheets not being completely flat.

BMC Biotechnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "focal issue" when you want to emphasize the central importance of a particular problem or subject in a discussion or situation. For instance, "The "focal issue" of the conference was climate change mitigation."

Common error

Avoid using "focal issue" when the problem is secondary or tangential. It's best reserved for the most important and central concerns. Choose another word if that's the case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "focal issue" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the most important subject, problem, or theme being considered. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "focal issue" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote the central point of concern or discussion. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. Alternatives such as "central concern" and "key question" can be used depending on the specific context. The phrase is suitable for formal to neutral registers, making it versatile for various writing purposes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

central concern

Replaces "issue" with a broader term, emphasizing the sense of worry or importance.

key question

Focuses on the aspect of inquiry or problem-solving related to the issue.

primary focus

Highlights the aspect of attention and concentration on a specific point.

main subject

Emphasizes the topic or theme under discussion or investigation.

core element

Indicates the fundamental or essential part of a problem or discussion.

crucial aspect

Stresses the importance and decisiveness of a particular facet.

central theme

Highlights the overarching idea or message.

principal topic

Directly refers to the main subject matter being addressed.

key item

Emphasizes a specific element that is critical or significant.

main concern

Highlights the worry or interest that is most important.

FAQs

How can I use "focal issue" in a sentence?

You can use "focal issue" to highlight the main problem or subject in a discussion. For example, "The "focal issue" of the debate was healthcare reform."

What are some alternatives to "focal issue"?

Alternatives include "central concern", "key question", or "primary focus", depending on the context.

Is "focal issue" formal or informal?

"Focal issue" can be used in both formal and neutral contexts, depending on the setting. It is suitable for discussions in news, academia, and business.

Which is the correct phrase: "focal issue" or "focus issue"?

"Focal issue" is the more common and grammatically sound phrase. While "focus issue" might be understood, it isn't as widely accepted or used.