stir discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'stir discussion' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a situation in which a topic or idea is being discussed or debated. For example, "The controversial article about gun control was sure to stir discussion among readers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Rather than declaring moral absolutes, even where they exist in Jewish law, he plays the relativist to stir discussion.

The New York Times

"My goal or mission is not to have people crying, but to stir discussion," Palu says.

Los Angeles Times

The Investing in Women summit will foster relationships between some of Africa's most influential women and leaders from prominent businesses, governments and NGOs and stir discussion around strategies for female empowerment.

Huffington Post

We offer the following brief observations and suggestions in hopes that they will stir discussion and action.

Evolutionary Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Since the publication of the Rocky Mountain News article, Justin's story has stirred discussion among teachers, parents and experts concerned with the education of highly gifted and talented children.

The New York Times

The unveiling of the teams for the All-Star Game on July 12 in Phoenix stirred discussion about two of New York's biggest stars: the Yankees' C. C. Sabathia and the Mets' Jose Reyes.

The New York Times - Sports

While there is little doubt that the information he provided has helped in the investigation of the attempted bombing, whether his assistance will help him is a different matter, one that has stirred discussion in the legal community.

The New York Times

And accusations against the woman who says she was raped have stirred discussion about how the Chinese media and courts deal with victims of sexual assault and minors accused of crimes.

The New York Times

A senior Justice Department official acknowledged on Tuesday that the question of whether Mr. Ashcroft should step aside had stirred discussion in the department, but said that the dissent was limited and did not reflect the overall thinking of the career lawyers who are in daily control of the leak case.

The New York Times

It's no surprise that the comedy stirs discussion, particularly on social media.

Los Angeles Times

Her inaction has even stirred discussion of revoking the Nobel Peace Prize she won in 1991 for "her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights". .

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stir discussion" when you want to convey the idea of something prompting or encouraging a conversation, especially when the topic may be somewhat controversial or thought-provoking.

Common error

While "stir discussion" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider alternatives like "foster dialogue" or "stimulate debate" for a more refined tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stir discussion" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, acting as a transitive verb where "stir" is the action and "discussion" is the object. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stir discussion" is a grammatically sound and semantically valid expression used to describe the act of prompting or initiating conversation or debate. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, although Ludwig shows that the phrase appears less frequently than other alternatives. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, one should still consider the context. This guide suggests alternatives like "spark discussion" or "foster dialogue" may be more appropriate in certain cases, and helps avoid overuse of the phrase in very formal settings. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spark discussion

This alternative suggests a more sudden and immediate initiation of discussion.

instigate discussion

This implies a more deliberate and intentional start to a discussion, sometimes with a hint of controversy.

prompt discussion

This emphasizes the action of encouraging a discussion to start.

foster discussion

This suggests creating an environment conducive to ongoing discussion.

trigger discussion

This indicates that something acts as a catalyst for starting a discussion.

arouse discussion

This alternative conveys a sense of awakening or stimulating interest in discussion.

stimulate discussion

This suggests actively encouraging a deeper and more thoughtful conversation.

raise discussion

This implies bringing a topic up for discussion, often for consideration.

incite discussion

This suggests provoking a passionate or even agitated debate.

ignite discussion

Similar to "spark", this conveys a rapid and energetic start to discussion.

FAQs

How can I use "stir discussion" in a sentence?

You can use "stir discussion" to indicate that something is likely to cause debate or conversation, such as "The controversial article is expected to "stir discussion" among experts".

What can I say instead of "stir discussion"?

You can use alternatives like "spark discussion", "prompt discussion", or "foster dialogue" depending on the context.

What does it mean to say something is intended to "stir discussion"?

It means the intent is to create a conversation or debate on a certain topic, often one that is important, interesting, or possibly controversial.

Is "stir up discussion" different from "stir discussion"?

"Stir up discussion" and ""stir discussion"" are similar, but "stir up" often implies a more active and potentially disruptive prompting of the conversation.