the fundamental issue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the fundamental issue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the core or most important problem in a situation or argument. Example: "In our debate about climate change, the fundamental issue is the lack of political will to implement necessary policies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"That's the fundamental issue".

The New York Times

But size is not the fundamental issue.

The New York Times

Then there's the fundamental issue of funding and organizational support.

The New York Times

That's the fundamental issue with drop-ship: inventory management.

The New York Times

But I think this currency thing was the fundamental issue.

The Guardian

"The fundamental issue is balancing competing interests," she said.

The New York Times

"The trust-betrayal thing is the fundamental issue".

The New York Times

The fundamental issue is the whole positioning of the store".

The New York Times

But in many countries, the fundamental issue is waste management.

The Guardian

The fundamental issue here is the perception of power.

Harvard Business Review

The fundamental issue at stake related to governance.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the fundamental issue", ensure that the context clearly establishes what other non-fundamental issues exist, demonstrating that you've considered peripheral elements before focusing on the core concern.

Common error

Avoid presenting "the fundamental issue" in isolation. Briefly acknowledge other contributing factors to show a comprehensive understanding of the situation. This strengthens your argument by demonstrating that you've considered the bigger picture before pinpointing the core problem.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the fundamental issue" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the core problem or central point of discussion. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and broadly applicable. For example, "That's the fundamental issue with drop-ship: inventory management."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the fundamental issue" is a grammatically correct and widely used noun phrase that serves to emphasize the core problem or central point in a discussion. As Ludwig AI has shown, its frequent appearance in news, business, and scientific contexts demonstrates its versatility and importance in clear communication. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to provide context by briefly acknowledging related issues to illustrate a comprehensive understanding of the situation. Alternatives such as "the basic issue" or "the underlying issue" can be used to add nuance, but "the fundamental issue" remains a strong choice for pinpointing the most critical aspect of any matter.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the basic issue

Focuses on the simplicity and essential nature of the problem.

the core problem

Highlights the central and most important difficulty.

the underlying issue

Emphasizes that the problem is not immediately obvious and requires deeper examination.

the essential issue

Highlights the absolute necessity of addressing this particular problem.

the key problem

Points to the most important and decisive difficulty.

the substantive issue

Indicates that the problem is significant and has real importance.

the central issue

Focuses on the problem being the focal point of the situation.

the critical issue

Emphasizes the urgency and potential danger if the problem is not resolved.

the major issue

Highlights the large scale or impact of the problem.

the primary issue

Indicates that the problem comes first in order of importance.

FAQs

How can I use "the fundamental issue" in a sentence?

Use "the fundamental issue" to introduce the most important aspect of a problem or debate. For example, "The fundamental issue is whether we can afford this new policy".

What can I say instead of "the fundamental issue"?

You can use alternatives like "the basic issue", "the underlying issue", or "the essential issue" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "the fundamental issue" and "the main issue"?

"The fundamental issue" refers to the most essential or foundational problem, while "the main issue" simply refers to the most important one. The fundamental issue is often deeper and more structural.

Is it redundant to say "the fundamental issue at hand"?

While not strictly redundant, "at hand" can often be omitted for conciseness. Saying "the fundamental issue" already implies that it's the issue being considered.