isolate the issue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "isolate the issue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to focus on a specific problem or challenge in order to analyze or address it more effectively. Example: "To resolve the ongoing conflict, we need to isolate the issue and understand its root causes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"To isolate the issue and the impact is, to me, to try to find the function of a bay leaf in a recipe of coq au vin".

The New York Times

Once the issue was detected, the sensing equipment operated as designed and opened a breaker, causing power to be partially cut to the Superdome in order to isolate the issue.

The New York Times - Sports

In fact, I agree with several readers who in various ways said that the way Michelle Obama and Julian Castro brought up marriage equality with an emphasis on the word "marry" and no use of the words "gay" or "lesbian"—was appropriate and effective, in that it made sure not to isolate the issue or make it seem the primary concern of just one minority group.

The New York Times

We are actively working now to isolate the issue and develop a solution to address it.

TechCrunch

"I never like to isolate the issue from the action or the solution that we're trying to implement ourselves".

Vice

Once you isolate the issue that way, it seems like an easy case, and I'm not surprised at all at the outcome.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The technical team jumped on the problem immediately and isolated the issue: a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year.

TechCrunch

Dashing rumors of an imminent compromise, Walker, ran an end- around his state's Democratic Senate exiles, ramming the bill through a tricky parliamentary procedure in a closed- door session, isolating the issues into non- fiscal elements.

Huffington Post

To circumvent this issue and isolate the effect of varying resource allocation on model prediction accuracy in subsequent cycles, another set of simulations was performed without the aspect of selection.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Given the interest and use of educational technologies and consequent interest by researchers, it is often challenging to isolate the major issues that have been or can be addressed by academic research.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

When you challenge your fears through careful, rational analysis, it becomes much easier to isolate the real issues and determine whether there is any merit to the fear.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "isolate the issue", ensure that you're clearly defining the boundaries of the problem you're addressing to avoid scope creep and maintain focus.

Common error

Avoid using "isolate the issue" when you're actually aiming to understand the interconnectedness of multiple problems. Be specific about which aspect you're setting apart for focused attention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "isolate the issue" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of separating a specific problem or concern from a broader context for focused attention. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "isolate the issue" is a grammatically sound and useful expression employed to emphasize the separation of a specific problem from a broader context. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While primarily found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, its neutral register allows for application across various settings. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in defining the problem's boundaries to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases such as "identify the problem" or "pinpoint the issue" can be considered depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

identify the problem

Focuses more on the act of recognizing a problem rather than separating it for analysis.

pinpoint the issue

Implies finding the exact location or cause of the problem with precision.

determine the issue

Emphasizes the process of deciding what the actual issue is.

define the problem

Stresses the need to clearly outline the scope and nature of the problem.

diagnose the issue

Suggests a more in-depth investigation to understand the root cause.

distinguish the issue

Highlights the act of differentiating the issue from other related concerns.

separate the issue

Focuses on drawing a clear distinction between the issue and other factors.

extract the problem

Implies carefully removing the problem from a larger context.

tease out the issue

Suggests a more delicate and patient process of uncovering the issue.

delimit the issue

Implies setting boundaries or limits to define the scope of the issue.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "isolate the issue" in a sentence?

Use "isolate the issue" to emphasize the act of focusing on a specific problem for analysis or resolution. For example: "To improve our customer service, we must first "isolate the issue" causing customer dissatisfaction".

What are some alternatives to "isolate the issue" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "identify the problem", "pinpoint the issue", or "define the problem".

Is "isolate the issue" formal or informal?

"Isolate the issue" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, as it is a straightforward and widely understood expression.

In what situations is it most appropriate to use "isolate the issue"?

It's most appropriate when you want to emphasize the need to separate a specific problem from a larger, more complex situation in order to address it effectively. This is common in troubleshooting, problem-solving, and analytical contexts.