highly contentious but

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly contentious but" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when introducing a statement or argument that is likely to provoke disagreement or debate, followed by a contrasting point or perspective. Example: "The proposal for the new policy is highly contentious but necessary for addressing the current issues in our community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The consultation process has been highly contentious, but Andy Atkins, director of Friends of the Earth, told the roundtable that the regulations could be "hugely important" in terms of the future direction of travel.

The Guardian

The sale of body organs is highly contentious but paradoxically, such a debate may raise awareness of the need for organs and the suggestion of a financial incentive could even encourage organ donation [ 7, 8].

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

BEIJING — China released a report on human rights on Sunday, highlighting the country's willingness to deal with the highly contentious issue but also the differences between its perceptions of human rights and those of many other countries.

The New York Times

by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko (Scholastic): Interracial marriage may not seem to be a highly contentious issue anymore, but that makes it all the more important to revisit the (very recent) historical struggles and breakthroughs that got us to this point--particularly given that the fight for marriage equality continues in the courts to this day.

Huffington Post

Transgender health access is a rarely discussed but highly contentious topic in Canada.

Vice

Best of VICE Canada returns to City on Sunday, February 7 with our two-part documentary "On Hold," which investigates the rarely discussed but highly contentious topic of transgender health access in Canada.

Vice

So far these have included appointing a new anti-corruption watchdog, launching an ambitious government program that will transfer cash directly to India's poor in the hopes of minimizing graft, and considering enactment of a robust, but highly contentious piece of anti-corruption legislation known as the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Huffington Post

The second way in which whole-genome sequencing will affect developmentalists is more practical but highly contentious.

Child Development

WASHINGTON -- Following a highly contentious seven-month battle, all but one of the nine recalled Wisconsin state Senators will fight to keep their seats in general elections happening on August 9 and August 16.

Huffington Post

GMO labeling bills passed in both Maine and Connecticut earlier this year, but California's highly contentious Prop 37 was rejected by voters last November.

Huffington Post

But reforming it is highly contentious: Mr Fox twice tried and failed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "highly contentious but", ensure that the contrasting point genuinely offers a new perspective or challenges the expected outcome of the contentious issue. This strengthens the overall argument and provides a balanced view.

Common error

Avoid using "highly contentious but" simply as a filler phrase. Ensure the "but" introduces a genuinely contrasting idea, not just a minor qualification. A weak contrast weakens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly contentious but" functions as a conjunction phrase. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase introduces a subject marked by significant disagreement followed by a contrasting element. It sets up a scenario where an issue is both controversial and subject to further consideration.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highly contentious but" is a conjunction phrase used to introduce a topic characterized by significant disagreement, followed by a contrasting perspective. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is grammatically sound and is found across different contexts, though it is not a very common expression. When employing this phrase, ensure a genuine contrast is presented to enhance the argument's depth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely controversial however

Replaces "highly contentious" with "extremely controversial" to emphasize the divisiveness, and "but" with "however" for a more formal tone.

deeply disputed nevertheless

Uses "deeply disputed" to highlight the disagreement and "nevertheless" to introduce the contrasting element with added emphasis.

intensely debated yet

Substitutes "highly contentious" with "intensely debated" to focus on the active discussion, and "but" with "yet" for a slightly softer contrast.

very controversial still

Replaces "highly contentious" with "very controversial", which is a more direct way of saying the same thing. "Still" is a simpler alternative to "but".

much argued despite

Changes "highly contentious" to "much argued" to highlight the disagreement and "but" to "despite" to show contradiction.

hotly debated even so

Uses "hotly debated" to convey the intensity of the debate, and "even so" to introduce the contrasting element.

sharply contested nonetheless

Replaces "highly contentious" with "sharply contested" to emphasize the conflict, and "but" with "nonetheless" for a more formal contradiction.

fiercely challenged on the other hand

Substitutes "highly contentious" with "fiercely challenged" to focus on the opposition, and "but" with "on the other hand" for a clearer transition to the contrasting point.

greatly disputed however

Replaces "highly contentious" with "greatly disputed" to focus on the intense disagreement, and "but" with "however" for a formal tone.

significantly questioned although

Uses "significantly questioned" instead of "highly contentious", focusing on the doubt surrounding the issue. "Although" is used instead of "but" to present a contrast.

FAQs

How can I use "highly contentious but" in a sentence?

Use "highly contentious but" to introduce a topic known for causing disagreement followed by a contrasting viewpoint. For example: "The new zoning law is "highly contentious but" necessary for urban development".

What are some alternatives to saying "highly contentious but"?

Alternatives include phrases like "extremely controversial however", "deeply disputed nevertheless", or "intensely debated yet", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What makes an issue "highly contentious"?

An issue is considered "highly contentious" when it involves strong disagreement, conflicting opinions, and significant debate among different groups or individuals. It often touches on sensitive topics.

Is there a difference between "highly contentious" and "controversial"?

While both terms suggest disagreement, "highly contentious" emphasizes the intensity and duration of the debate, whereas "controversial" simply indicates that the topic is subject to public disagreement. "Highly contentious" suggests a more prolonged and heated dispute.