it is debate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is debate" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express that something is a subject of debate, but it lacks clarity and grammatical structure. Example: "In this context, it is debate about the effectiveness of the new policy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It is debate; it is conflict; it is spoken; it is embodied; it is enfolded in ritual by virtue of the space it inhabits, the objects that are associated with it and by a meticulous ordering of proceedings.

The Guardian

It's all advice and analysis this morning and most of it is debate about whether Obama should move to the center or not.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Now, it is debating when to slow its bond purchases.

Huffington Post

It is debated whether all forms of learning represent the same process.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is debated whether this is true also at gestational diabetes.

Early Human Development

It is debated how closely our abilities of moral discernment are tied to our moral motivations.

SEP

It is debated whether Béla was a second or a third son.

Wikipedia

Consequently, although it is debated, UCP2 is predicted to reduce the ATP yield from substrate oxidation.

Plosone

It is debated whether such a large scale screening project should be advocated [10], [11].

Plosone

In rheumatic diseases, it is debated whether fatigue is independently associated with disease activity.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

However, it is debated whether this upregulation is cause or effect for epilepsy.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "it is debate". Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives such as "it is a debate", "it is debated", or "it is a matter of debate".

Common error

Do not use "debate" directly after "is" without a determiner or changing the verb form. Always use a correct form such as "it is a debate" or "it is debated" to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is debate" is grammatically incorrect. It attempts to convey that something is a subject of discussion or contention. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, standard English requires either an article before "debate" (e.g. "it is a debate") or a different verb form (e.g. "it is debated").

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33.3%

Science

33.3%

Wiki

16.7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

16.7%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is debate" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it should be replaced with phrases like "it is a debate" or "it is debated". While some examples exist in various sources, including news and media, science, encyclopedias and wikis, its low frequency and grammatical issues make it unsuitable for formal writing. Always opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is a debate

Addition of the article 'a' to form a noun phrase.

it is debated

Changing the verb form to passive voice.

it is under debate

Adding 'under' to specify a state of being discussed.

it is a matter of debate

Using a more formal construction to indicate a topic of discussion.

it is a topic of debate

Similar to 'matter of debate', but using 'topic'.

the matter is in debate

Rephrasing to emphasize the subject being discussed.

the issue is being debated

Shifting focus to the 'issue' and using continuous tense.

debate surrounds it

Inverting the sentence structure to emphasize the debate itself.

there is debate about it

Employing a 'there is' construction.

the subject is open to debate

Highlighting the openness of the topic to discussion.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something is being discussed?

Instead of saying "it is debate", you should say "it is a debate", "it is debated", or "it is under debate".

Can I use "debate" directly after "it is"?

No, using "debate" directly after "it is" is grammatically incorrect. You need to add an article (a) or change the verb form (debated) for the sentence to be correct.

What does it mean when something is a 'matter of debate'?

When something is a "matter of debate", it means it is a topic that people are actively discussing and disagreeing about. You can express this as "it is a matter of debate".

Is "it is debate" ever correct?

No, "it is debate" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Always use a more appropriate construction such as "it is a debate" or "it is debated".