problematic paragraph

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "problematic paragraph" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific paragraph that presents issues, challenges, or difficulties in understanding or interpretation. Example: "The essay's argument is weakened by a problematic paragraph that fails to provide sufficient evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As a result, I have reworded the problematic paragraph as follows: "Although membranes were thought for a long time to be passive structures that just allowed solutes to diffuse across them, we now know that modern membranes are necessarily endowed with the ability to control the entry and exit of molecules depending on their needs, even sometimes against the chemical gradients.

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The last paragraph is problematic.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

During the course of her argument, there is one paragraph whose content is entirely problematic.

Independent

Participants should bear in mind that even if only one little bit (or line, or paragraph) of a comment is problematic, the whole comment will be removed.

The Guardian

The last paragraph of the Discussion is problematic: "We propose that the biological function of the heterozygosity cis-effect is to recruit crossovers to variable regions of the chromosomes, acting as a feed-forward mechanism to increase diversity".

eLife

These are more problematic, because the position sketched in the previous paragraph is hard to defend and potentially self-defeating.

SEP

The statement in the last paragraph of the subsection "Model parameters" is problematic.

eLife

I am referring in particular to the last paragraph in the subsection "Model", which is quite problematic in a number of ways.

eLife

However, counting the (co- occurrence of co- occurrencesuch dofuments is problematicategoriessubsume sinilar asuchts or mix documents ones is a given problematic

Energy, Sustainability and Society

The results of the questionnaires and interviews showed that the linguistic elements of journal papers were the most problematic areas, while the meta-linguistic features of papers such as the overall structure and paragraph development were perceived to be the most important features of journal papers.

English for Specific Purposes

Kershner didn't get around to explaining exactly what was "problematic" about the wording of the poll question until she after she meandered for several paragraphs discussing other results from the poll.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When identifying a "problematic paragraph", be specific about what makes it problematic. Is it the logic, the evidence, the clarity, or something else? Providing concrete feedback will be more helpful than a general critique.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling a paragraph as "problematic" without explaining why. A vague critique is unhelpful to the writer. Provide specific details about the issues, such as lack of evidence, unclear arguments, or grammatical errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "problematic paragraph" functions as an adjective-noun combination to describe a specific paragraph that contains difficulties, errors, or issues. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is usable and understandable in written English. It helps specify which part of the text needs attention or revision.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "problematic paragraph" is a common and grammatically sound way to identify a paragraph that presents difficulties or errors. As Ludwig underlines, it serves to highlight specific sections needing attention and revision, commonly in Science and News & Media contexts. When using the phrase, remember to clearly articulate why the paragraph is problematic to provide constructive feedback. Alternatives such as "troublesome paragraph" or "flawed paragraph" can be used depending on the specific issue. In essence, "problematic paragraph" is a reliable tool for critical analysis, urging writers and readers to address specific weaknesses in a text's composition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

troublesome paragraph

Emphasizes the difficulty or annoyance caused by the paragraph.

problem-ridden paragraph

Emphasizes the abundance of problems within the paragraph.

contentious paragraph

Highlights that the paragraph is likely to cause disagreement or argument.

flawed paragraph

Focuses on the imperfections or errors within the paragraph.

questionable paragraph

Suggests that the validity or accuracy of the paragraph is in doubt.

dubious paragraph

Similar to 'questionable' but carries a stronger sense of doubt or suspicion.

difficult paragraph

Indicates the paragraph is hard to understand or interpret.

imperfect paragraph

A more formal way of saying the paragraph has faults.

awkward paragraph

Suggests the paragraph is clumsy or poorly constructed.

unsatisfactory paragraph

The paragraph does not meet the required standards or expectations.

FAQs

How can I identify a "problematic paragraph"?

Look for paragraphs that contain unclear language, unsupported claims, logical fallacies, or irrelevant information. A "problematic paragraph" often disrupts the flow of the overall argument.

What are some alternatives to saying "problematic paragraph"?

You can use alternatives like "troublesome paragraph", "contentious paragraph", or "flawed paragraph" to describe a paragraph with issues.

Is it better to say "problematic paragraph" or "difficult paragraph"?

The choice depends on the specific issue. "Problematic paragraph" suggests there are identifiable problems, while "difficult paragraph" implies it's hard to understand, regardless of errors. It depends on the context of the "paragraph".

How do I fix a "problematic paragraph"?

Start by identifying the core issue: Is it clarity, evidence, or logic? Then, revise the paragraph to address these problems directly, ensuring it supports the overall argument effectively and replace the "problematic paragraph" with an improved one.