controversy about vs controversy on

Both 'controversy about' and 'controversy on' are commonly used in English, but 'controversy about' is more widely accepted and preferred. 'Controversy on' is also used, but it may sound less natural to some speakers.

Last updated: March 19, 2024 • 1907 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"controversy about"

This phrase is used to introduce the topic or subject of a controversy. It is widely accepted and preferred in English.

Examples:

There is a controversy about the new policy.
The controversy about climate change continues to grow.
The book sparked a controversy about its content.

Show examples from the web [+]

there was a lot of controversy about it → hubo mucha controversia or polémica en torno a eso to cause controversy → ocasionar controversia or polémica.
Definition of controversy noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning , pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms ...
Controversy About Radiation. Why don't people, even the experts, agree about the effects of radiation? The short answer to this question is that experts don't ...
(Hybrid); [S] · [T] She has waded into one controversy after another. (CM); [S] · [T] There was a controversy about the location of the new school. (CM) ...

Alternatives:

debate about
dispute about
argument about
controversy surrounding
controversy over

This phrase is correct but may sound less natural to some speakers.

"controversy on"

This phrase is also used to introduce the topic or subject of a controversy, but it may be less common or preferred compared to 'controversy about.'

Examples:

There is a controversy on the issue of gun control.
The article sparked a controversy on social media.
The controversy on the new law is escalating.

Show examples from the web [+]

The controversy on Hrafnkels saga remains unsettled.
Galileo became involved in a controversy on the nature of comets.
The usual, trite, useless, pathetic controversy on the supposed target of Nintendo Wii rekindles.
English comedian and political commentator John Oliver also weighed in on the controversy on his show Last Week Tonight, criticizing WWE for what he saw as blatant pro-Saudi propaganda.
VATICAN CITY - There is a controversy on the Shroud: the "restoration" operation, led in August and being illustrated in Turin next Saturday, has provoked very strong reactions in the sindonologists' world.
The controversy on rebaptism is especially connected with the names of Pope St. Stephen and of St. Cyprian of Carthage.
I underline the most remarkable statements. The official statement as to the moral and material progress of India, which has recently been published, supplies a very interesting contribution to the controversy on the missionary question.
In the absence of this repleader within the stated term, the board of experts constituted by the Dispute Resolving Service (DRS) Tonucci & Partners settles the controversy on the basis of the complaint only, except under exceptional circumstances.
A controversy on predestination led to the withdrawal of the Ohio Synod in 1881, and of the Norwegian Synod in 1884.
With regard to the controversy on the recent appointment of Romanian minister Dan Sova and his previous remarks on the Holocaust, Swoboda said:
Today on my Facebook page I asked this question: If an inmate receives a sentence of life with no chance for parole do you think the inmate should be able to decide if they want the death penalty? It was quite a controversy on the...
I do not want this House to open the controversy on the linguistic translation of Article 158 - the Committee on Regional Policy did not concern itself with this problem - and I leave that task to whoever is competent in this Parliament and possibly the Court of Justice.
Through all of the controversy on the "Holocaust" my thoughts have continually returned to this point.
This will provide a lasting solution to the long standing controversy on the Commission's implementing powers, and the possibility for Parliament to supervise them.
In recent days there has been considerable controversy on this matter, not least sparked by remarks published in the newspaper le Monde.
There is controversy on the question of whether there should be more money in 2011 - EUR 1500 - for assistants.
In this respect it is noted that the injury indicators are not in anyway affected by the alleged controversy on CN codes.
I know there has been some controversy on the impact of EU customs legislation on trade in generic medicines.
As you know, right now Italy is facing a major controversy on this issue.
The recent controversy on the expensive fares on routes to Sardinia say a lot about what effects might occur traffic by sea if it was not properly addressed.

Alternatives:

debate on
dispute on
argument on
controversy surrounding
controversy over

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controversy about vs controversy on