incite debate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incite debate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing topics or actions that provoke discussion or differing opinions among people. Example: "The author's controversial article is sure to incite debate among readers about the implications of the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Bella's clothes for Jaeger may be too subdued to incite debate, but they are also too cool to be dismissed.

The New York Times - Magazine

The movie is entertaining enough to be a hit — its domestic grosses are currently approaching $150 million — and provocative enough to incite debate among historians and Op-Ed columnists.

The New York Times

In response to the Caesar mess, artists have spoken out, both in defense of the production itself and the more general right of theater to stir controversy, critically address current events and incite debate without being silenced or threatened. .

Huffington Post

Furthermore, in order to incite debate and stimulate thought, presenters were asked to be provocative, fly kites, and act as devil's advocate and present data from an unconventional perspective.

Breast Cancer Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It has incited debate on each side of the issue.

The New York Times

If nothing else, it's done what all ambitious television drama should and incited debate.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Photograph: Jim Cox/AP Rarely has a Broadway musical incited debate about the history of gay people in America, but A Catered Affair, the new brainchild of former drag queen Harvey Fierstein, author of Torch Song Trilogy and La Cage aux Folles, is an exception to the rule.

The Guardian

Similarly, the acceptance of birth control advocate Elizabeth Bagshaw and gay rights campaigner Brent Hawkes also incited debate.

Wikipedia

While the release of this footage has incited debate about how humane Halal slaughter is, Andrew Tyler, director of Animal Aid, told VICE News that this is not a Halal-focused problem.

Vice

Making reference to Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, and Marissa Mayer, the chief executive of Yahoo – two powerful women who have recently incited debates over work-life balance – Ms. Callan draws lessons from her experience.

The New York Times

The recent deliberations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDAA) regarding the relationship between antidepressants and suicidality in children have incited debates about the safety of these medications for the treatment of pediatric depression.

Biological Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incite debate" when you want to emphasize the act of stimulating or provoking discussion, often on a controversial or important topic. Consider the audience and context to ensure the phrase is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "incite debate" when a more neutral term like "encourage discussion" or "promote understanding" would be more suitable. "Incite" can sometimes imply a more aggressive or inflammatory intent.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "incite debate" is as a verb phrase where "incite" acts as a transitive verb and "debate" as its direct object. This phrase describes the action of initiating or provoking a discussion or argument. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incite debate" is a grammatically correct way to describe the act of provoking or stimulating discussion. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase is appropriate for use in written English and is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. While "incite" can sometimes carry a negative connotation, its use in this context generally refers to actively prompting discussion, even if it's on contentious issues. Alternatives such as "stoke debate" or "foster debate" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Remember to use "incite debate" when you want to emphasize sparking discussion, particularly on significant topics, while being mindful of the potential implications of using "incite".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stoke debate

Focuses on intensifying an existing debate.

provoke debate

Emphasizes causing a debate to occur.

foster debate

Highlights the act of nurturing or encouraging debate.

spark debate

Implies initiating a debate suddenly or quickly.

stimulate debate

Focuses on encouraging more in-depth or thoughtful debate.

encourage debate

Suggests a more general and supportive prompting of debate.

trigger debate

Highlights causing the start of a debate.

fuel debate

Emphasizes adding energy or intensity to a debate.

promote debate

Highlights actively supporting and publicizing a debate.

generate debate

Focuses on creating or producing debate.

FAQs

How can I use "incite debate" in a sentence?

You can use "incite debate" to describe actions or topics that provoke discussion, for example, "The controversial policy is likely to "incite debate" among stakeholders."

What is a more neutral alternative to "incite debate"?

If you want to avoid the potentially negative connotation of "incite", you can use alternatives like "encourage discussion", "foster dialogue", or "promote understanding".

What's the difference between "incite debate" and "encourage discussion"?

"Incite debate" suggests a more active and possibly controversial prompting of discussion, while "encourage discussion" implies a more general and supportive fostering of dialogue. The former can sometimes imply a more aggressive intent.

When is it appropriate to use "incite debate" rather than "spark debate"?

"Incite debate" is suitable when the goal is to actively provoke a discussion, even if it's contentious. "Spark debate" suggests a quicker, more immediate initiation of discussion, often on a topic that wasn't previously widely discussed.