the issue lingers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the issue lingers" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or problem that continues to exist or persist over time, often causing concern or discomfort. Example: "Despite numerous attempts to resolve the conflict, the issue lingers, affecting team morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But the issue lingers.

The New York Times

Yet the issue lingers.

The New York Times

But while Samsung's peers appear to mostly be done taking potshots at the company for the time being, and it hasn't done much to impact the company's bottom line, the issue lingers large in the public's mind, as cab drivers and flight attendants were more than happy to remind me on my trip to Barcelona.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Still, the issue lingered.

The New Yorker

The issue lingering over the league's future involves Missouri.

The New York Times - Sports

The House DOD bill, with a repeal of DADT, has already passed and the Senate cannot let the issue linger.

Huffington Post

Six years have passed, but the issues linger.

The New York Times - Arts

Still, the authenticity issue lingers around hip-hop, which is a cunningly crafted show-business phenomenon as well as an expression of urban culture.

The New Yorker

I think there's no doubt that economic concerns are on most people's minds, but what I'm impressed with particularly is how the war issue lingers on as a source of anxiety and concern.

The New Yorker

But the parade issue lingered, and it erupted anew last week when the Orange Order rejected a new system for mediating routes and timing, raising anger, particularly among republicans.

The New York Times

While Ms. Kaye has been widely regarded as having reformed the courts, a major issue lingers: judicial pay raises.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the issue lingers" when you want to convey that a problem or subject has not been fully addressed and continues to be relevant over time. This implies a sense of incompleteness or unresolved status.

Common error

Avoid using "the issue lingers" when describing something that has been completely resolved or is no longer relevant. Ensure the context accurately reflects an ongoing or unresolved situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the issue lingers" functions as a statement indicating that a problem or subject has not been fully resolved and continues to persist. It is a declarative statement about the ongoing nature of an issue, which Ludwig AI confirms to be correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

11%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the issue lingers" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, as validated by Ludwig AI. It signifies that a problem or subject persists over time without a clear resolution. Commonly found in news and media contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral register, suitable for various discussions. While not exceedingly frequent, its usage is straightforward, and alternative phrases like "the problem persists" or "the matter remains unresolved" can be used for semantic variation. When writing, ensure the context accurately reflects an ongoing situation to avoid misusing the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the problem persists

Replaces "issue" with "problem", focusing on the problematic aspect and uses verb "persists" as an alternative to lingers.

the matter remains unresolved

Substitutes "issue" with "matter" and emphasizes the lack of resolution, changing the focus from duration to status.

the situation has not been resolved

Similar to "the matter remains unresolved", focusing on the lack of a solution to the situation.

the question remains open

Replaces issue with question and highlights that it is open rather than resolved.

the subject is still under discussion

Shifts from persistence to ongoing discussion, focusing on active engagement with the topic.

the concern endures

Focuses on the emotional aspect (concern) and uses "endures" to emphasize long-lasting impact.

the topic resurfaces periodically

Emphasizes recurrence rather than continuous presence, implying intermittent appearances of the topic.

the debate continues

Highlights the ongoing nature of the debate around the issue.

the challenge remains

Replaces issue with challenge, and focuses on the difficulty.

the controversy drags on

Indicates a negative connotation, suggesting the controversy is protracted and unwelcome.

FAQs

What does "the issue lingers" mean?

The phrase "the issue lingers" means that a problem or subject continues to exist or be relevant for an extended period, often without a clear resolution.

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

You can use alternatives like "the problem persists", "the matter remains unresolved", or "the question remains open depending on the specific context.

Is "the issue lingers" formal or informal?

The phrase "the issue lingers" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is more common in news and media.

How to use "the issue lingers" in a sentence?

You can use "the issue lingers" to describe any unresolved problem or topic. For example: "Despite the new regulations, the issue of data privacy lingers".