when the issue arises

USAGE SUMMARY

"when the issue arises" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in situations when you are talking about a hypothetical situation that might occur in the future. For example: "We must be prepared to institute a new policy when the issue arises."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is another thing when the issue arises a second time.

The New York Times

It may be easily swept under the carpet with talk of "weakness" or "moments of madness", but we must resist our natural defensiveness when the issue arises.

Independent

The silver lining, if you want to call it that: We're sure to get another crack at the underlying problem when the issue arises again, unavoidably, in a decade or two.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And when the issue arose later, in the early 1990s, "Russia at first did not object".

The Guardian - Opinion

Ms. Durrell said that when the issue arose, "I kind of laughed about it.

The New York Times

When the issue arose again last Monday, Judge Sand still hesitated to introduce the book before the jury.

The New York Times

That helps explain why, when the issue arose in a debate two weeks ago, the Democratic candidates for mayor, William C. Thompson Jr. and Tony Avella, both said: Sure, let's rename the Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway station in Brooklyn for Michael Jackson.

The New York Times

But, as Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer noted when the issue arose in 1998, neither of these observations justifies reliance on overly broad gender distinctions that assume all mothers behave in one way and all fathers in another.

The New York Times

When the issue arose, Strzok was taken off the Mueller team in late July, and he was given a job in the human resources division of the FBI — widely viewed internally as a demotion, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Washington Post

I'm confident it won't come to anything draconian". When the issue arose in 2011, a compromise was reached in which players were allowed to wear armbands with the poppy symbol.

BBC

When the issue arose Tuesday, it passed without debate.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when the issue arises" to introduce a condition or hypothetical scenario, especially when discussing potential problems or decisions that may need to be addressed in the future. It provides a clear and concise way to set the stage for subsequent actions or considerations.

Common error

Avoid using "when the issue arises" in situations where simpler alternatives like "if there's a problem" or "when it happens" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or stilted.

Linguistic Context

"When the issue arises" functions as an adverbial clause of time, introducing a condition or point in time when a particular problem or matter becomes relevant. Ludwig confirms its usability, indicating its acceptance in English writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when the issue arises" serves as a useful phrase to introduce a hypothetical scenario. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. While not the most common expression, it finds a home in news, academic and scientific writing. The phrase's grammatical correctness and presence in authoritative sources suggest a high level of appropriateness. Remember to consider simpler alternatives when appropriate and avoid overuse in casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when the problem occurs

Substitutes 'issue' with 'problem' and 'arises' with 'occurs', focusing on the emergence of a difficulty.

when the difficulty presents itself

Replaces 'issue' with 'difficulty' and uses a more descriptive verb phrase 'presents itself'.

when the matter comes up

Uses 'matter' instead of 'issue' and the phrasal verb 'comes up' to indicate the topic being raised.

should the question emerge

Employs a more formal tone, replacing 'when' with 'should' and 'issue' with 'question'.

if the subject is brought up

Changes the structure to a conditional statement, using 'subject' for 'issue' and 'is brought up' for 'arises'.

as the situation unfolds

Shifts the focus to the progression of events, using 'situation' instead of 'issue'.

upon the emergence of the concern

Adopts a formal and somewhat passive construction, replacing 'issue' with 'concern'.

once the dilemma surfaces

Substitutes 'issue' with 'dilemma' and 'arises' with 'surfaces', implying a challenging situation becoming apparent.

whenever the conflict emerges

Replaces 'issue' with 'conflict', focusing on disagreement or opposition, 'arises' with 'emerges'.

on the occasion that the problem occurs

Rephrases to 'on the occasion that' for formality and replaces 'issue' with 'problem'.

FAQs

How can I use "when the issue arises" in a sentence?

You can use "when the issue arises" to introduce a contingency or potential problem. For example, "We will address the privacy concerns "when the issue arises"".

What are some alternatives to "when the issue arises"?

Some alternatives include "if the problem occurs", "when the matter comes up", or "should the question emerge", depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to use "when the issue arises", or are there simpler options?

In many cases, simpler phrases like "if there's a problem" or "when it happens" can be more appropriate and less formal. "When the issue arises" is best suited for more formal or serious contexts.

What's the difference between "when the issue arises" and "if the issue arises"?

Both phrases introduce a conditional scenario. However, "when the issue arises" suggests a higher likelihood of the issue occurring, while "if the issue arises" implies a more uncertain possibility.