focus of contention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "focus of contention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a specific issue or topic that is causing disagreement or dispute among parties. Example: "The proposed policy changes became the focus of contention during the town hall meeting, with residents divided on the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A major focus of contention is the use of large quantities of highly toxic cyanide to separate gold and silver from the ore.

The New York Times

Often a focus of contention by powers of East and West, Damascus's fortunes have frequently been linked to those of distant capitals, most notably Ashur, Antioch, Rome, Baghdad, Cairo, and Istanbul.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The focus of contention is regulations that circumvent China's pledge under the terms of its accession to the WTO to lower import tariffs on foreign-made auto parts to 10%, down from a range of between 13.8% and 16.4%, and to cut the rate on imported passenger cars to 25% from 28%.

Forbes

The Armenian Kingdom between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea became a focus of contention between Rome and the Parthian Empire, and control of the region was repeatedly gained and lost.

Wikipedia

This proposal has been the focus of contention within scientific circles [9], [10].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Not surprisingly, it has become a recurrent focus of political contention.

The New York Times

The process of writing a new constitution became the focus of bitter contention between the Islamists and a loose opposition comprising liberal, secular, and Christian factions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, in the "new normal" of China-U.S. relations, a struggle over principles and rules has increasingly become the focus of their contention.

Huffington Post

Historically, confounding has been of prime importance, and the focus of most contention, in studies of environmental chemical exposures, because of the frequent regulatory and economic implications of the causal inferences drawn.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Focusing on points of contention can be one way to do that.

Huffington Post

In the following, we will not attempt to point out all the errors or inconsistencies that we found, instead we focus on major points of contention.

Coastal Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "focus of contention", ensure the context clearly identifies the parties involved and the nature of the disagreement. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, the phrase "focus of contention" is relatively formal. Avoid using it in casual conversation or informal writing, where simpler terms like "issue" or "problem" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "focus of contention" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a specific issue or topic that is the primary cause or center of disagreement. Ludwig AI provides examples from various contexts, including news and science.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "focus of contention" is a grammatically correct noun phrase that effectively highlights the central point of disagreement in a formal context. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is most common in news, scientific, and encyclopedia sources, indicating a level of formality. While alternatives such as "point of contention" and "bone of contention" exist, understanding the subtle differences in connotation and formality is crucial for effective communication. Avoid overuse in informal settings to maintain the appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

point of contention

This alternative uses "point" instead of "focus", indicating a specific item or issue causing disagreement.

bone of contention

This alternative employs a more idiomatic expression, suggesting a long-standing and significant cause of dispute.

matter of dispute

This option replaces "contention" with "dispute", highlighting the disagreement aspect.

area of disagreement

This phrase uses more general terms to describe the conflicting topic.

subject of controversy

This alternative replaces "contention" with "controversy", emphasizing the debatable nature.

issue in question

This version focuses on the specific question or problem that is being debated.

source of conflict

This alternative uses "source" instead of "focus", underscoring the origin of the conflict.

point of argument

This highlights the argumentative nature of the issue.

central conflict

This version focuses on contention as the core conflict, simplifying the descriptive.

core disagreement

This choice directly labels the heart of a disagreement with a more neutral tone.

FAQs

How can I use "focus of contention" in a sentence?

Use "focus of contention" to identify a central point of disagreement in a debate or conflict, as in, "The use of cyanide was the "focus of contention" regarding the proposed mine."

What are some alternatives to "focus of contention"?

You can use alternatives like "point of dispute", "bone of contention", or "matter of dispute" depending on the context.

Is "focus of contention" formal or informal?

The phrase "focus of contention" tends to be relatively formal and is often found in news reports, academic papers, and encyclopedias. Simpler phrases are more suitable for informal contexts.

What's the difference between "focus of contention" and "focus of attention"?

"Focus of contention" highlights disagreement or conflict, while "focus of attention" simply means something is being given a lot of notice or consideration.