indicate an issue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indicate an issue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to point out or highlight a problem or concern in a discussion or report. Example: "The data collected from the survey seems to indicate an issue with customer satisfaction levels."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

John Fremer, the president of Caveon, said the findings did not indicate an issue of unusual proportions.

The New York Times

Recently could indicate an issue, while if the address is anonymous and information about the person or organisation that registered it cannot be viewed that could also be a warning sign.

The Guardian - Travel

Green squares indicate that all systems are working; orange triangles indicate an issue.

TechCrunch

More retweets indicate an issue resonates effectively.

Huffington Post

Basically, systematic errors indicate an issue in the signal processing that can be corrected by improving sensing, amplification, calibration, or by correction (Fig. 1).

Anesthesia and Analgesia

In our study two thirds of women with SMO developing within the first twelve hours of admission were admitted without referrals, which may indicate an issue in the referral system and/or the detection of pregnant women with life-threatening complications outside these hospitals due to delay in seeking care or reaching care.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In my opinion the evidence indicates an issue of honesty and integrity, not merely naive or poor professional judgment.

The Guardian

"In my opinion the evidence indicates an issue of honesty and integrity, not merely naïve or poor professional judgment," she said.

Independent

But in a statement on Tuesday, Deborah Glass, the deputy chairwoman of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, said, "The evidence indicates an issue of honesty and integrity, not merely naïve or poor professional judgment" on the part of those representatives.

The New York Times

Ms Glass said: "In my opinion the evidence indicates an issue of honesty and integrity, not merely naive or poor professional judgement".

BBC

Others dispute these claims and point out that Perot forced the other candidates to change their rhetoric on the issues to gain the votes of his supporters, indicating an issues campaign.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "indicate an issue", ensure the context provides sufficient information about the nature and scope of the issue being indicated. Vague references can weaken the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "indicate an issue" when the evidence is weak or preliminary. Instead, use phrases like "suggest a possible issue" or "may indicate an issue" to convey uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indicate an issue" functions as a verb phrase, where "indicate" is the verb showing something and "an issue" is the noun phrase identifying what is being shown or suggested. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "indicate an issue" is a grammatically sound phrase used to point out or suggest a problem. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and while it's not the most common phrase, it appears across various contexts, especially in News & Media and Scientific domains. When employing the phrase, ensure that there is sufficient context for readers to understand the specific issue. Alternatives like "suggest a problem" or "point to a concern" can be used to vary your language. Be mindful of overstating the issue if the evidence is preliminary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suggest a problem

Focuses on the suggestion of a problem rather than explicitly indicating it.

point to a concern

Emphasizes directing attention towards a concern.

highlight a problem

Stresses making a problem more noticeable.

signal a difficulty

Implies a warning or early sign of a difficulty.

reveal a challenge

Highlights the unveiling or discovery of a challenge.

denote a problem

Similar to "indicate", but slightly more formal.

intimate a concern

Suggests a concern subtly or indirectly.

betray a difficulty

Implies that a difficulty is revealed unintentionally.

attest to a problem

Offers evidence or proof of a problem.

bespeak a concern

Indicates or suggests a concern; more formal and literary.

FAQs

How can I use "indicate an issue" in a sentence?

You can use "indicate an issue" to highlight a problem or concern. For example, "The survey results "indicate an issue" with employee morale".

What are some alternatives to "indicate an issue"?

Alternatives include "suggest a problem", "point to a concern", or "highlight a problem", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "indicate an issue" or "indicates an issue"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "indicate an issue" with plural subjects (e.g., "These results indicate an issue"). Use "indicates an issue" with singular subjects (e.g., "This result indicates an issue").

What's the difference between "indicate an issue" and "mention an issue"?

"Indicate an issue" suggests that something points to a problem, while "mention an issue" simply means to bring it up without necessarily implying it's problematic. The former implies something is revealed, while the latter is merely named.