issues in hand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "issues in hand" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to problems or matters that are currently being dealt with or managed. Example: "We need to focus on the issues in hand before we can move forward with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

With the resolution of my fundamental body issues in hand, toying with gendered objects and concepts became much easier: not only empowering in its own right, it meant that finally, I'd found a community to which I wanted to belong.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In a sign of the continuing anger at the political establishment in Bradford, Selina Ullah, chair of the Bradford Muslim Women's Council, warned in the local media that for too long the voices of women and young people had "been ignored, at best because of a paternalistic approach, at worst [because] they were not deemed worthy of having opinions relevant to the issues in hand".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Today, Jonathan Stuart Ward and Adam Barker at the University of St Andrews in Scotland take the issue in hand.

MIT Technology Review

We need to be brave in our gardens, especially given the unpredictability of the issue in hand.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At the last minute they will trade away their opposition on the issue in hand against a handsome concession elsewhere, and they are respected for doing so.

The Economist

The truth is that Clegg is only calling for a referendum on "in or out of Europe" to cover up the fact that he is against a referendum on the real issue in hand - the revived constitutional treaty.

The Guardian - Opinion

Separately, in an interview in the New Statesman to be published on Thursday, Thompson appeared to suggest the BBC had the issue in hand, noting that "pay has come down significantly".

The Guardian

The issue in hand being the remuneration and in particular severance payments made to top managers at the corporation, which exceeded not only contractual obligations but also, it would seem, public and political tolerance.

The Guardian

" 'We know what you're doing, stop it, we know what you're doing, stop it.' Eventually, it got to the point where the government had to take the issue in hand".

The New York Times - Magazine

The factions within the group weren't set in stone, but would dissolve and reconstitute along a series of different fault lines – Oxford (and Occidental, the Os often stuck together) against Cambridge, the Do Not Adjust Your Set veterans versus the rest, people whose names were Terry standing up bravely against people whose names weren't Terry – according to the issue in hand.

Independent

"They don't want some sort of a blank check that is given to the Security Council to try to take this issue in hand," said one Arab diplomat involved in the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of diplomatic concerns.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "issues in hand" when you want to emphasize the active management or resolution of specific problems or concerns. This indicates a direct and focused approach to dealing with existing challenges.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid using "issues in hand" in extremely formal or academic writing where more precise or technical language might be preferred. Alternatives like "current challenges" or "prevailing matters" may suit those contexts better.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "issues in hand" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to specify the problems or concerns currently under consideration. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and it's usage in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "issues in hand" is a valid prepositional phrase used to highlight problems or matters currently being addressed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is most commonly found in news and media, and science-related contexts. While suitable for many situations, more formal contexts might benefit from alternatives such as "pending matters" or "current challenges". Remember to use "issues in hand" when emphasizing active management and focused resolution of existing problems.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relevant issues

Stresses the importance and pertinence of the matters.

current challenges

Focuses on the difficulty aspect, highlighting the problems being faced.

present concerns

Emphasizes the immediacy and relevance of the matters at hand.

existing problems

Stresses the problems that already exist and need attention.

immediate tasks

Shifts the focus to actions needed now, rather than the problems themselves.

pending matters

Highlights the fact that these issues are waiting to be resolved.

prevailing matters

Stresses the importance and the power that it has in the moment.

ongoing affairs

Emphasizes the continuing nature and management of these issues.

current situation

Offers a more general view of the present circumstances.

immediate priorities

Highlights issues that are the most important and must be done first.

FAQs

How can I use "issues in hand" in a sentence?

You can use "issues in hand" to refer to current problems or matters being dealt with. For example, "We need to prioritize the "relevant issues" in hand before moving forward."

What's a more formal alternative to "issues in hand"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "pending matters", "current challenges", or "prevailing matters", depending on the specific context.

Is "issues in hand" interchangeable with "matters at hand"?

While similar, "matters at hand" is slightly broader. "Issues in hand" specifically refers to problems, while "matters at hand" can include any business or topics being addressed.

When is it best to use "issues in hand" instead of "current issues"?

"Issues in hand" suggests a more active and focused approach to managing problems. "current issues" simply refers to problems that exist now, without necessarily implying direct action.