topic of contention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "topic of contention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a subject or issue that is disputed or causes disagreement among people. Example: "The proposed policy change has become a topic of contention among community members, sparking heated debates at town hall meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

3. In groups, research and write dialogues between proponents of two competing theories on a particular topic of contention.

The New York Times

Race is rarely a public topic of contention in Mexico, a country that erects monuments to its Indian forebears even as their closest descendants live in crushing poverty and illiteracy.

The New York Times

The West Virginia case became the latest topic of contention between Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi when Mr. Hevesi said yesterday that it had "disturbing parallels" with the company's recent actions in New York.

The New York Times

Innominate kinematic anomalies resulting in low back pain (LBP) of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) origin (SIJ-positive), has always been a topic of contention, owing to difficultly in its evaluation.

Manual Therapy

That unwelcome flood of cash has already pushed up their currencies, and the new Fed action is certain to be a topic of contention when President Obama and other leaders of the Group of 20 economic powers gather in Seoul, South Korea on Thursday of next week for a two-day summit meeting.

The New York Times

"That was a tragedy that could have been avoided". But the former official acknowledged that the question of how to prevent similar incidents was a topic of contention, as are discussions about whether to expand investigators' authority to share intelligence about non-criminal activities by U.S. citizens.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

It is organized in the form of "point and counterpoint" discussion of ten issues or topics of contention to be found in the recent literature on these dynamo models.

Advances in Space Research

The key topics of contention have been how accurate phylogenetic methods are at recovering linguistic history and how congruent the results are with the traditional linguistic comparative method.

Plosone

The viability of unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) as a stand-alone or temporising option for the management of gonarthrosis is a topic of considerable contention.

The Knee

One matter of contention is sub-contracting.

The Economist

Records are another matter of contention.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "topic of contention" when you want to emphasize that a particular subject is a source of disagreement or debate. It's suitable for formal and neutral contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "topic of contention" in very casual conversations. Simpler terms like "argument" or "disagreement" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "topic of contention" functions as a noun phrase, identifying a subject that is the cause of disagreement or dispute. It is commonly used to pinpoint the central issue in arguments, debates, or conflicts, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "topic of contention" effectively identifies a subject causing disagreement or debate. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage across news, science, and general contexts. While suitable for neutral to formal settings, consider simpler terms in casual conversations. Alternatives like "point of contention" or "bone of contention" offer similar meanings. Using "topic of contention" appropriately enhances clarity in discussions by pinpointing the central issue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bone of contention

Emphasizes the cause of the disagreement or dispute.

point of contention

Highlights a specific issue or detail that is the subject of disagreement.

matter of dispute

Focuses on the disagreement itself, rather than the subject.

area of conflict

Highlights the potential for confrontation or discord.

subject of debate

Emphasizes the formal or structured discussion around the topic.

issue in question

Draws attention to a specific matter being discussed or examined.

point of disagreement

Directly states the lack of agreement on a specific issue.

source of friction

Implies that the topic is causing tension or difficulty in a relationship or situation.

disputed subject

Highlights that the topic is not universally accepted and is subject to opposing views.

controversial issue

Focuses on the public disagreement and debate surrounding the topic.

FAQs

How can I use "topic of contention" in a sentence?

You can use "topic of contention" to describe something that people strongly disagree about. For example: "Climate change is a major "topic of contention" among politicians".

What is a good alternative to "topic of contention"?

Alternatives include "point of contention", "bone of contention", or "matter of dispute", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "topic of contention" formal or informal?

"Topic of contention" is generally considered neutral to formal. It's suitable for academic writing, news reports, and professional discussions, but might sound overly formal in casual conversation.

What's the difference between "topic of contention" and "topic of discussion"?

"Topic of contention" implies disagreement or dispute, while "topic of discussion" simply means a subject being talked about, without necessarily implying conflict.