raise a controversy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "raise a controversy" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used when someone or something has caused an issue to be widely discussed or debated. For example, "The release of the book about the president's personal life raised a controversy about privacy rights versus public knowledge."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And even if we set aside anything that might raise a controversy about personal identity, the mere discovery of an unexpected means of traversing our extravagant universe, with its billions of galaxies and billions of star systems within each of them, might open up for adventurous spirits anyway incredible possibilities for new and exciting experiences.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A group of undocumented youth that presented themselved to immigration authorities at a legal port of entry in Nogales has raised a controversy over their audacious tactics.

Huffington Post

But a proposal to rebuild the facility on nearby parkland has raised a controversy potentially pitting city commissions against each other and commissioners against their own staff.

Los Angeles Times

The high sequence identity between known eukaryotic DING sequences and available prokaryotic DING sequences (>70% sequence identity) and the systematic absence of eukaryotic DING genes raised a controversy about their prokaryotic [10] or eukaryotic origins [11].

Plosone

Occurrence of JAK2V617F in association with phenotypically different classes of MPNs raised a controversy as to the real function of the mutated JAK2 and the possible involvement of additional genetic determinants in these phenotypic discrepancies.

Blood Cancer Journal

As a work of narrative history, this volume, like its predecessors, combines detailed narration of events with irritating rhetorical tics, like the alternation of long paragraphs with dramatic single sentences that sometimes fade into ellipses: "Everyone assumed the immediate impendence of a historic White House legislative proposal, a proposal bound to raise a storm of controversy......

The New York Times - Books

(9 times out of 10, the person will reply with their own nationality rather than with "both". The results from this question can raise a lot of controversy, so be careful).

WikiHow

For some in the human rights debate, this raises a further controversy concerning how such situations comport with Western conceptions of democracy and representative government.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I have no doubt that a defendant who claims that he has been subjected to an unlawful search or seizure and seeks suppression of the evidentiary fruits thereof raises a live controversy within the Art.

Cornell University

If it's not, Fouchier says that he's interested in finding out which mutations might make it easily transmissible between ferrets, the kind of experiments that raised a huge controversy when his lab reported them in H5N1.

Science Magazine

Electric scooters in particular have raised a lot controversy, because of how scooter services are run, potential safety concerns, and legal requirements for the drivers, to name just three of the issues.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "raise a controversy", ensure the subject clearly identifies what action or entity initiated the contentious issue.

Common error

Avoid using "raise a controversy" without clearly specifying the action or statement that sparked the disagreement. Ambiguity can weaken the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "raise a controversy" functions as a verb phrase, where "raise" is the main verb and "a controversy" is the object. As Ludwig AI explains, it signifies causing an issue to become widely discussed or debated.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "raise a controversy" is a valid and understandable expression used to describe the act of initiating or escalating a dispute. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While not exceedingly common, it finds usage across diverse contexts from news reporting to scientific discussions. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity in identifying the instigating factor to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "spark a controversy" or "ignite a debate" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spark a controversy

Emphasizes the sudden and immediate onset of the controversy.

give rise to a controversy

A more formal way of saying "raise a controversy", indicating causation.

ignite a debate

Focuses on the act of starting a discussion, often heated.

trigger a dispute

Highlights the adversarial aspect of the situation.

provoke public outcry

Focuses on a strong, negative reaction from the general public.

fuel the disagreement

Suggests an ongoing controversy that is being intensified.

instigate a conflict

Directly implies the initiation of a struggle or clash.

prompt a backlash

Indicates a strong negative reaction to a particular action or statement.

generate contention

Focuses on the creation of a state of disagreement and argument.

stir up discord

Emphasizes the creation of disharmony and friction.

FAQs

How to use "raise a controversy" in a sentence?

Use "raise a controversy" when you want to describe an action, statement, or event that causes widespread disagreement or debate. For example, "The new policy "raised a controversy" among employees".

What can I say instead of "raise a controversy"?

You can use alternatives like "spark a controversy", "ignite a debate", or "trigger a dispute depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "raise a controversy" and "cause a controversy"?

"Raise a controversy" implies bringing a controversy into existence or increasing its visibility, while "cause a controversy" simply means to be the reason a controversy exists. The former often suggests a more active role in instigating the debate.

Is it better to "raise a controversy" or "address a controversy"?

These phrases have opposite meanings. "Raise a controversy" means to initiate or create a controversy, while "address a controversy" means to deal with or try to resolve an existing controversy. The appropriate phrase depends entirely on the context.