prevailing topic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevailing topic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the most common or dominant subject in a discussion or context. Example: "The prevailing topic at the conference was the impact of climate change on global economies."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Different chemical techniques of formation of nano-structures on the surface of C-Si solar cell, has been the prevailing topic of scholarly investigations of the stipulated time period.

Materials Today: Proceedings

Breastfeeding women's expectations of health care providers emerged as a prevailing topic of discussion in these interviews.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The prevailing topic of conversation at the conference was "Can Europe become more like silicon valley?".

TechCrunch

Gene family is becoming a prevailing topic in genomic research.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Hosted by ILR's New York City-based Institute for Workplace Studies IWSS) and moderated by Associate Professor and IWS director Louis Hyman, the lively discussion centered on disruptive technology, the decline of traditional employment opportunities, the emergence of the gig economy, Universal Basic Income, and other prevailing topics transforming the world of work.

Cornell University

At the PDF conference a month ago, the conversations were light years away from 2008, when the prevailing topics were the election and Mayhill Fowler.

Huffington Post

The qualitative interviews with health workers covered the following topics: prevailing practice; experience and views of health workers on core HRM/QM tools, such as training, supervision, performance assessments, participation, leadership, working environment, personal and career plans; and implicitly their effect on motivation.

Human Resources for Health

The volcanic eruption has been such a non-factor for most Icelanders that after a day or two, attention quickly shifted back to the other prevailing domestic topic du jour: the continuing political fallout from the financial crisis.

The New York Times

As simultaneous intervention of two (or multiple) cancer progression relevant targets has shown improved therapeutic efficacy, the innovation of multi-targeted drugs has become a promising and prevailing research topic and numerous multi-targeted anticancer agents are currently at various developmental stages.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

And in the fourth place, in the teeth of the prevailing skepticism on this topic, he developed an original and boldly positive justification of inductive inference.

SEP

Many of the HEF's and VF's suggested additions to and deletions from the instructional materials were at odds with prevailing scholarship on these topics.

Johns Hopkins University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prevailing topic" when you want to emphasize the widespread or dominant nature of a subject in a particular context. For example, "The "prevailing topic" in the tech industry is artificial intelligence."

Common error

Avoid using "prevailing topic" to describe niche or highly specialized subjects. It's best suited for discussions with broad relevance. For example, don't say "The "prevailing topic" among model train enthusiasts is track curvature", unless it's a particularly contentious issue in the broader hobbyist community.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevailing topic" functions as a noun phrase, where "prevailing" modifies the noun "topic". Ludwig AI indicates it's usable and correct in written English. Its primary grammatical function is to identify a prominent or dominant subject within a particular context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prevailing topic" is a grammatically sound and useful phrase that identifies a dominant subject within a specific context. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct to use in your writing. Its usage spans across diverse sources, including news outlets, academic journals, and scientific publications. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, it leans toward a more neutral or professional tone. Be aware of scope and context when you employ "prevailing topic" in your writing, and consider alternatives like "dominant subject" or "main theme" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dominant subject

Focuses on the idea of a subject having the most influence or importance.

main theme

Highlights the central and recurring idea within a discussion or work.

principal issue

Emphasizes the primary point of contention or concern.

key subject

Highlights a significant and important area of focus.

central theme

Similar to "main theme" but may suggest a more deeply embedded or foundational concept.

major focus

Points to the main area of attention or activity.

primary concern

Highlights the leading cause of worry or interest.

overriding issue

Suggests a problem or topic that takes precedence over others.

current focus

Emphasizes what is being concentrated on in the present time.

hot topic

Indicates a subject that is currently very popular and widely discussed, often controversial.

FAQs

How can I use "prevailing topic" in a sentence?

You can use "prevailing topic" to describe the main subject of conversation or focus in a given situation. For example: "The "prevailing topic" at the conference was the impact of globalization on local economies."

What's a good alternative to "prevailing topic"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "dominant subject", "main theme", or "principal issue".

Is "prevailing topic" formal or informal?

"Prevailing topic" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's often found in more professional or academic settings. You might use it when discussing trends or issues in a structured environment.

How does "prevailing topic" differ from "popular topic"?

"Prevailing topic" suggests a subject that is currently dominant or widespread in discussion, while "popular topic" simply means a subject that many people are interested in. A "prevailing topic" might be driven by current events or necessity, whereas a "popular topic" is more about general interest.