Meaning & use
controlling idea
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Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
The main point of an essay, paragraph or speech that decides which details belong and keeps everything focused.
Grammar: Used in writing instruction, usually with an or the: the controlling idea of the paragraph.
Patterns
- the controlling idea of something
- state the controlling idea
Each paragraph should have a controlling idea stated in its first sentence.
The teacher marked the essay down because it had no clear controlling idea.
Before outlining, she wrote one sentence naming her controlling idea.
Word forms
| plural | controlling ideas |
|---|
Common combinations
- state the controlling idea
- State the controlling idea early so readers know your purpose.
- support the controlling idea
- Every example must support the controlling idea.
- central controlling idea
- The central controlling idea of the essay is that cities need more trees.
- develop a controlling idea
- Students learn to develop a controlling idea in each paragraph.
- clear controlling idea
- A clear controlling idea keeps writing focused.
Synonyms and how they differ
- thesis
- A thesis is the arguable central claim of a whole essay, while a controlling idea can govern a single paragraph as well.
- main idea
- Main idea is the plain phrase used in reading lessons, with less stress on the idea guiding what is included.
- topic sentence
- A topic sentence is the actual sentence that states the idea, not the idea itself.
- central theme
- A central theme is a recurring subject in a work and is more about meaning than organization.
Word family
- control verb
- to direct or guide something
- controlling adjective
- directing or dominating
- idea noun
- a thought or plan
Commonly confused: controlling idea or topic?
controlling idea vs topic
A topic is the general subject, such as pollution, while a controlling idea is what you say about it, such as that pollution can be reduced by taxes.
Practice
A paragraph starts with the sentence Public libraries strengthen communities, and every following detail supports it. That sentence expresses the paragraph's ___.
Choose one answer.
The sentence states the main point that governs the paragraph, which is the controlling idea. The other options are parts of a document, not the guiding point.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “controlling idea”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.