issue lies with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "issue lies with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something, or someone, as the root cause of a problem or issue. For example: "The issue lies with the broken water pipes, not the faulty wiring."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The greater issue lies with the Conservatives' bizarre policies on pay and training, something that is also hitting home in other sectors such as healthcare.

The Guardian - Opinion

Its issue lies with an inability to create companies with the winning formula of killer ideas, unstoppable momentum and the best funding that enables them to go supermassive.

The Guardian

"The research shows that a large part of the responsibility for solving this issue lies with law firms, so we need to ensure they attack the problem with the energy and enthusiasm it deserves".

The Guardian

"Schengen countries have not done that with the 'Jungle' and I, for one – as much as I am sympathetic and I feel sorry for the number of people genuinely seeking asylum – I think really the issue lies with the Schengen countries and they cannot see Britain as a soft touch".

The Guardian

"But my issue lies with the way it's been handled.

BBC

As explained in the previous paragraph, another issue lies with the selection of the suitable indicators and the time period.

Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The Harvard law professor Steven Shavell, who calls himself a "quasi Letterman fan," said the issue lay with Halderman's motives: it's about "hurting the person who committed the crime".

The New Yorker

Alan Cobb, a top operative from the campaign, told the Guardian "our numbers were correct at the time of printing" and suggested the issue lay with the state party making constant revisions to the delegate order.

The Guardian

Cho, who was asked by DC to create variant covers for a series of Wonder Woman comics, said in a statement to the Bleeding Cool site that his issue lay with writer Greg Rucka.

The Guardian - Books

The real issue lie with the script.

Los Angeles Times

The ultimate authority in the White House for such issues lies with the President's national-security adviser — in this case,Condoleezza Rice.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "issue lies with", ensure that the subject causing the issue is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "The issue lies with the implementation strategy" instead of just "The issue lies with the strategy."

Common error

Avoid using "issue lies with" without specifying the subject causing the problem. Saying "The issue lies with them" is less effective than "The issue lies with their lack of experience."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "issue lies with" functions as a declarative statement that pinpoints the origin or location of a problem. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts, confirming its role in specifying the cause of an issue.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "issue lies with" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for indicating the source of a problem. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage across diverse sources. Its most frequent context is within News & Media, followed by Science and Formal & Business. When employing this phrase, ensure you clearly define the subject causing the issue to avoid any ambiguity. Alternatives like "problem lies with" or "responsibility falls on" can be used to slightly modify the emphasis or formality. Remember, the goal is to pinpoint the origin of the difficulty for effective resolution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

problem lies with

Replaces "issue" with "problem", focusing on the problematic aspect.

the crux of the problem is

Identifies the most critical point of the problem, emphasizing the complexity.

the heart of the matter is

Similar to "core of the matter is" but more emphatic, stressing the significance.

difficulty resides in

Substitutes "issue" with "difficulty" and "lies with" with "resides in", shifting to a more formal tone.

core of the matter is

Emphasizes the central aspect of the issue, providing a slightly more analytical perspective.

main concern centers on

Shifts the focus to what is most concerning or worrying about the situation.

root cause is

Highlights the fundamental reason behind the problem, replacing the descriptive phrase with a direct statement of causation.

key challenge involves

Highlights the challenging aspect of the issue, useful in problem-solving contexts.

responsibility falls on

Focuses on accountability, changing the phrasing to emphasize who or what is responsible.

blame rests with

Directly assigns blame, altering the tone to be more accusatory.

FAQs

How can I use "issue lies with" in a sentence?

Use "issue lies with" to indicate the primary cause or source of a problem. For instance, "The "issue lies with" the outdated software, not the hardware."

What's a formal alternative to "issue lies with"?

A more formal alternative could be "The responsibility falls on" or "The core problem resides in". For example, "The "responsibility falls on" the management team to address these concerns."

Is it correct to say "issue lays with" instead of "issue lies with"?

No, "issue lays with" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is ""issue lies with"", where "lies" is the present tense of the verb "to lie", indicating location or source.

What's the difference between "issue lies with" and "problem lies with"?

While both are similar, ""issue lies with"" is slightly more general, referring to any matter of concern. "problem lies with" specifically refers to a difficulty or challenge that needs to be resolved.