open to controversy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "open to controversy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a topic, idea, or opinion that is likely to provoke disagreement or debate among people. Example: "The new policy on climate change is open to controversy, as many experts have differing opinions on its effectiveness."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedia

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The precise number of vibrations per second that created the yellow bell pitch is open to controversy (between middle C-sharp [C♯] and the F above) because the location of this pitch could be changed by the work of new astrologers and acousticians on behalf of a new emperor, in order that his kingdom might stay in tune with the universe.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(See e.g. Polkowsky and Skowron 1994: 86 for a formulation of the Unrestricted Sum axiom (P.152).) On the other hand, it is worth noting that precisely because the difficulty is mainly technical the framework itself being fairly firm now some of the questions raised in connection with option (i) tend to be less open to controversy.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Moore told the Guardian last year that the series was unlikely to end with Century 2009, leaving the door wide open to future controversies, including a tale set in 2011 and even stories set in the future.

The Guardian - Books

And, as you might assume, work with that nomenclature opens itself to controversy.

Huffington Post

On the surface, today's Wagner societies seem fully open to discussion of controversy.

Huffington Post

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and opened to significant controversy and criticism from audiences and critics.

Wikipedia

The British Museum, which has collected the best of what human civilisation has to offer – not without controversy – is now open to the world for free.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Spymaster was able to do this based on an invite-only system (something which also caused some controversy), now with it open to the public and going mobile, we could be in for a second wave of Spymaster fury.

TechCrunch

"Tonight we honor Hollywood's best and whitest, er, brightest," he quipped as he opened the show, referring to controversy over the lack of diversity in the nominees.

Los Angeles Times

This system has also given rise to controversy and opened the door for cheating.

Wikipedia

"Kurt & Courtney" opened to a bout of controversy.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "open to controversy" when you want to express that a topic or issue is likely to cause disagreement or opposing viewpoints.

Common error

Avoid using "open to controversy" when you actually mean the topic is intentionally designed to provoke dispute. In such cases, "inviting controversy" would be a better fit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "open to controversy" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that the subject is likely to provoke debate or disagreement. Ludwig confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "open to controversy" effectively communicates that a subject is likely to generate disagreement or debate. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and finds use across diverse sources, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedias. While "open to controversy" is a useful expression, synonyms like "subject to dispute" or "debatable" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the potential for disagreement, rather than an intentional effort to provoke it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

debatable

A more concise way of saying something is open to debate.

subject to dispute

Replaces "open" with "subject", focusing on the susceptibility to disagreement.

a matter of debate

Replaces "open" with "a matter", emphasizing the debate itself.

in contention

Highlights the state of being disputed.

up for debate

An informal way of saying something is available for discussion.

liable to contention

Emphasizes the probability of arguments arising.

prone to disagreement

Highlights a natural inclination towards discord.

arguable

Highlights that the statement is likely to be discussed and that there are possibly valid counterarguments.

questionable

Suggests doubt and uncertainty, leading to potential controversy.

under discussion

Focuses on the active process of debate.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is described as "open to controversy"?

It means that the topic, idea, or situation is likely to provoke disagreement, debate, or strong opposing viewpoints. It suggests that there isn't a consensus and that different people may have significantly different opinions.

What are some synonyms for "open to controversy"?

Some alternatives include "subject to dispute", "debatable", or "in contention". The best choice depends on the specific context.

How can I use "open to controversy" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "The proposed tax reform is "open to controversy" because it disproportionately benefits the wealthy."

Is it grammatically correct to say "open to controversy"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase is commonly used in English to describe subjects that are likely to cause disagreement or debate.