ignite a debate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ignite a debate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of starting or provoking a discussion or argument on a particular topic. Example: "The politician's controversial statement was enough to ignite a debate among the public about the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

That incident helped ignite a debate over the rule.

The New York Times

The presenter said she hopes the film will ignite a debate about these issues.

Independent

The Whistleblower documents this story and helped ignite a debate at the U.N. over this problem.

Stanford University

I had expected the Hemming statement to ignite a debate across the press this morning.

The Guardian

Crosby's concussion, which has helped ignite a debate about the injury in hockey, was chosen as the top N.H.L. story of the year by Sports Illustrated.

The New York Times

But as they ignite a debate over a variety of genetic birthrights, their impact may be further-reaching than anyone anticipated.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Allen has ignited a debate and that's great.

Independent

Edward Snowden has ignited a debate, and for that I am grateful.

The New York Times

Perspecta 48 considers the uses and abuses of history and ignites a debate about the role of memory in architecture.

Yale University

A decaying bridge has ignited a debate over how a struggling city treats some of its poorer residents.

The New York Times

The paper has ignited a debate among scholars over what happened and how to interpret historical records.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ignite a debate" when you want to emphasize the forceful or sudden commencement of a discussion, often suggesting a spark of controversy or strong disagreement.

Common error

Avoid using "ignite a debate" in contexts where the discussion is mild or expected. Choose a more neutral term like "initiate" or "prompt" to avoid exaggerating the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ignite a debate" functions as a verb phrase that introduces a noun, indicating the action of starting or provoking a discussion or controversy. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, emphasizing the initiation of conflict or disagreement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ignite a debate" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression, primarily found in news and academic contexts. It signifies the act of initiating a discussion, often with connotations of controversy or strong disagreement. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While alternatives like "spark a debate" or "trigger a debate" exist, "ignite a debate" specifically emphasizes the forceful commencement of a discussion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spark a debate

This alternative suggests a sudden and forceful beginning, similar to "ignite", but with a slightly less intense connotation.

trigger a debate

This alternative emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship, where something sets off the debate.

stimulate a debate

This alternative focuses on encouraging or prompting a debate that may already have underlying potential.

initiate a debate

This alternative emphasizes the formal beginning or launch of a debate.

prompt a debate

This alternative indicates causing or encouraging a debate through a specific action or statement.

foster a debate

This alternative implies nurturing and supporting the growth of a debate over time.

set off a debate

This alternative suggests an abrupt start to a debate, often as a reaction to something.

instigate a debate

This alternative denotes actively provoking or initiating a debate, often with a deliberate intention.

launch a debate

This alternative suggests a formal commencement or introduction of a debate.

generate a debate

This alternative focuses on creating or producing a debate through specific actions or factors.

FAQs

What does "ignite a debate" mean?

The phrase "ignite a debate" means to start or provoke a lively and often contentious discussion on a particular topic.

What can I say instead of "ignite a debate"?

You can use alternatives like "spark a debate", "trigger a debate", or "stimulate a debate" depending on the context.

How do you use "ignite a debate" in a sentence?

Example: "The politician's controversial statement was enough to "ignite a debate" among the public about the new policy."

Is "ignite a debate" formal or informal?

"Ignite a debate" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in news and media reporting, where the goal is to highlight the intensity of the discussion.