umbrella issue

USAGE SUMMARY

"umbrella issue" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It generally refers to a broad problem or concept that spans multiple facets of a given issue. For example, you could say, "Gender inequality is an umbrella issue that includes issues such as unequal access to education and representation in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I propose to talk today about the "umbrella issue" that spans all of these topics: the emerging law of twenty-first century war.

Yale University

And Hilary Mason, a computer scientist, and Marc André Robinson, a sculptor, both intrigued by trying to change the culture of disposable goods in the United States, took on the "cheap umbrella issue" in New York.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Bender said he and Jeff Skoll, the founder of the socially minded company Participant Media and an executive producer of "An Inconvenient Truth," realized that nuclear peril -- like climate change -- is an "umbrella issue," something that "affects life on a planetary basis," and so a worthy candidate for another sound-the-alarm documentary.

The New York Times

With all the controversies over myriad subjects, health care, medicare/medicaid, immigration, the environment, etc., it's as if the commentators and politicians are incapable of talking about more than the issue of the week, presuming it rather than the umbrella issue that caused this all, our election system, caused our current mess.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The African-American women raised "the umbrella issues of racism and poverty".

The New Yorker

There were plenty of other umbrella issues to discuss, but, as we sat down, Hollinger excitedly announced that he had another invention he wanted to talk about — one of the products he'd written into "The Ruby and the Prism".

The New Yorker

But allowing the Serbs and their Russian backers to endlessly stir strife does nothing but put off the only feasible solution, which is to gather all the feuding Balkan nations under the European Union and NATO umbrellas, where issues of sovereignty, borders and ancient grievances would hopefully fade.

The New York Times

Whether to keep the red umbrella is an issue weighted with sentiment and history.

The New York Times

Peter Youngbaer, white-nose syndrome liaison for the National Speleological Society, a caving group, said it made sense for the Forest Service to issue umbrella orders to communicate a clear message.

The New York Times

"Furthermore, how can Argentina trust a totalitarian regime with absolutely no respect for human rights?" Both AMIA itself and DAIA, the country's umbrella Jewish group, issued a statement criticising the agreement.

The Economist

Oxfam was this week joined in calling for global tax reform by the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT), an umbrella group that issued its own report on Tuesday.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "umbrella issue" when you want to highlight a problem or topic that has many related sub-issues or aspects. It's useful for summarizing complex situations.

Common error

Avoid using "umbrella issue" when a simpler term like "main problem" or "key issue" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when the issue genuinely encompasses multiple sub-elements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "umbrella issue" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a broad or overarching problem. As Ludwig AI states, it generally refers to a problem that spans multiple facets. The examples show it used to describe topics like cybersecurity, climate change, and racism.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "umbrella issue" is a noun phrase used to describe a broad problem or topic that encompasses many sub-issues. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and useful for framing complex situations. While it appears most frequently in News & Media and Academia, it's best used when you need to highlight the wide-ranging implications of a problem. Remember that while understandable in most contexts, "umbrella issue" leans toward neutral to formal usage. Alternatives include "overarching concern", "comprehensive problem", or "general theme".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overarching concern

Focuses on the concern being broad and all-encompassing.

comprehensive problem

Emphasizes the extensiveness of the problem.

encompassing matter

Highlights the matter's ability to include many aspects.

broad subject

Shifts the focus to the wide scope of the subject.

general theme

Indicates a prevalent and widespread theme.

central question

Focuses on the issue as a primary inquiry.

primary focus

Highlights the main area of attention.

key consideration

Emphasizes the importance of the issue.

fundamental aspect

Highlights the basic and essential nature of the issue.

core element

Focuses on the essential part of the issue.

FAQs

What does the term "umbrella issue" mean?

An "umbrella issue" refers to a broad problem or topic that encompasses many related sub-issues or aspects. It's a way of describing a complex situation with multiple layers.

How can I use "umbrella issue" in a sentence?

You might say, "Climate change is an "umbrella issue" that includes rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and deforestation."

What are some alternatives to saying "umbrella issue"?

Alternatives include "overarching concern", "comprehensive problem", or "general theme", depending on the specific context.

Is "umbrella issue" a formal or informal term?

While understandable in most contexts, "umbrella issue" leans toward neutral to formal usage. For more informal settings, consider a simpler term like "big problem".