pivotal issues

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pivotal issues" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to important or crucial matters that significantly impact a situation or decision. Example: "In the meeting, we discussed several pivotal issues that could affect the future of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Many pivotal issues like sovereignty, taxation, foreign policy and financing for regional development require unanimous votes.

The New York Times

— said that globalization and the credit crisis now roiling financial markets would be pivotal issues in the coming year.

The New York Times

Many pivotal issues now require unanimous votes, but the more members the union acquires, the harder it will be to achieve unanimity.

The New York Times

In public statements, Pompeo has taken positions identical to — and in some instances tougher than — the President's on four pivotal issues: Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Jerusalem.

The New Yorker

The two tales demonstrate how bilingual education programs operate differently in each of the city's 32 school districts, especially on pivotal issues like parental choice.

The New York Times

As chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, Mr. McCotter is a member of the party leadership, but he has broken ranks on some pivotal issues.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

But agriculture was the pivotal issue.

The New York Times

The pivotal issue here is that of boundaries.

The New York Times - Arts

This could be the pivotal issue of the case".

The New York Times

WHICH brings us to a pivotal issue: money.

The New York Times

He added: "It is a pivotal issue not just about health care.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pivotal issues", ensure the context clearly establishes the importance and potential impact of these issues on the overall situation or decision-making process.

Common error

Avoid using "pivotal issues" for minor or insignificant matters. Reserve this phrase for truly critical subjects that have a substantial influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pivotal issues" functions as a noun phrase, where 'pivotal' modifies 'issues'. It highlights the significance and criticality of the subjects being discussed. Ludwig AI confirms that "pivotal issues" is correctly used to identify topics of major importance.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pivotal issues" is a correct and commonly used phrase to describe crucial matters that significantly influence a situation or decision. Ludwig AI confirms its accurate usage across various contexts. This phrase is particularly prevalent in news, science, and business domains. When writing, ensure that the issues you label as "pivotal" genuinely warrant such significance, steering clear of overuse in trivial contexts. Alternatives like "critical concerns" or "key priorities" can provide nuanced options, depending on the specific emphasis intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critical concerns

Focuses on the aspect of worry and importance.

key priorities

Highlights the importance of issues as top goals.

essential matters

Emphasizes the fundamental nature of the issues.

major challenges

Highlights the problematic aspect of pivotal issues.

significant problems

Focuses on impact and relevance of the problems.

central questions

Highlights the importance of these issues in the form of questions.

crucial aspects

Emphasizes that the issues are very important.

decisive factors

Focuses on the influence of issues on the outcome.

vital subjects

Highlights the necessity and importance of discussing these issues.

fundamental points

Underlines the elemental character of these issues.

FAQs

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

You can use "pivotal issues" to refer to important matters that significantly impact a situation. For example: "The discussion focused on the "pivotal issues" affecting the company's future."

What are some alternatives to saying "pivotal issues"?

Alternatives to "pivotal issues" include "critical concerns", "key priorities", or "essential matters", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "pivotal issues" or "important issues"?

"Pivotal issues" suggests a more decisive and influential role compared to simply "important issues". Use "pivotal issues" when the matters are crucial and could determine the outcome, for example "decisive factors".

What makes an issue "pivotal"?

An issue is considered "pivotal" when it acts as a turning point or critical factor, significantly affecting the course of events or the outcome of a situation. It is a "crucial aspect" to consider.