only dispute left

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only dispute left" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there is just one remaining disagreement or conflict to resolve in a situation. Example: "After hours of negotiation, the only dispute left is the final price of the contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The only dispute left concerns tobacco.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Lindsay lost, and the dispute left a trail of bitterness.

The New York Times - Books

Meanwhile Ospreys say the ongoing dispute left them in a difficult position regarding player contracts.

BBC

Nor was this the only dispute with the Americans.

The Guardian - Opinion

Doctrinal disputes leave most people cold.

The New York Times - Magazine

Also, the Court's ruling meant that the only recourse left to Indian tribes for land disputes was Congress.

Wikipedia

While the United States and Canada have other maritime boundary disputes along their 5,525-mile 5,525-milee world's longest, this is the only one left that involves actual chunks of land.

The New York Times

With only a month left until Election Day, disputes around the country over new voter ID requirements, early voting, provisional ballots and registration drives are looking far less significant.

The New York Times

Eleven days later, Wotton stated that the council had only $600,000 left in its reserves to run the island until the end of June – a claim chairwoman Foster heatedly disputed by saying that the council in fact had $1.5 million.

Wikipedia

Only disputed events detract from the movie's understated delights.

The New Yorker

And the International Court of Justice hears only disputes between states.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "only dispute left", ensure the context clearly establishes prior disagreements have been resolved. This highlights the significance of the remaining issue.

Common error

Avoid using "only dispute left" when multiple significant issues still exist. Overstating the resolution level can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only dispute left" functions as a nominal phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies the final unresolved issue after other disagreements have been settled. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "only dispute left" is a grammatically sound expression used to indicate the final remaining disagreement after others have been resolved. While deemed correct and usable by Ludwig, it's a relatively rare expression that appears mostly in news and media contexts. For more formal settings, consider alternatives such as "last remaining disagreement" or "sole remaining issue". Ludwig's analysis suggests that while the phrase is valid, writers should be mindful of its frequency and register when choosing it for their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last remaining disagreement

Focuses on the disagreement aspect while emphasizing it's the last one.

final point of contention

Highlights the point of contention and its finality.

sole remaining issue

Emphasizes that it is the single issue.

the only outstanding disagreement

Formal tone stressing that disagreement is the only thing that prevents from a resolution.

just one issue remains

Simple restatement of a single remaining problem.

single unresolved matter

A more formal variation, matter emphasizes importance.

remaining bone of contention

Figurative language for a persistent dispute.

the last open question

Rephrases dispute as an unanswered question.

only unresolved conflict

Synonymous with the original but using 'conflict'.

final unsettled problem

Replaces dispute with a more general term problem.

FAQs

How can I use "only dispute left" in a sentence?

You can use "only dispute left" to indicate that after resolving several disagreements, just one remains. For example: "After hours of negotiation, the "only dispute left" is the final price of the contract."

What are some alternatives to "only dispute left"?

Alternatives include "last remaining disagreement", "final point of contention", or "sole remaining issue", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "only dispute left" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "only dispute left" is relatively neutral. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "the "only outstanding disagreement"" or "the "single unresolved matter"".

What's the difference between "only dispute left" and "only thing left"?

"Only dispute left" specifically refers to a disagreement, while "only thing left" is a more general phrase that can refer to anything remaining, not necessarily a disagreement.