Issue vs. Problem 

"Issue" vs. "Problem" in English

What Is Their Main Difference?

These two words refer to some kind of obstacle that stops you from moving forward. However, an 'issue' encompasses broader topics. 'Problems' can range from minor to major ones and there is always a solution to every problem.

Differences

As stated above, an 'issue' indicates important matters. It also needs to be discussed and inspectedl. Look at the examples below:

Example

These riots have become an issue nowadays and the government is thinking about taking action.

The issue of plastic pollution is what we must discuss next, ladies and gentlemen.

'Problems', on the other hand, can range from small to big ones. The term 'problem' is more common in daily conversations, whereas, 'issue' is more formal. Additionally, regardless of how big it is, there is always a solution to every problem. Take a look at the following examples:

Example

Dude, what's you problem with me? Haven't you learnt to communicate?

One of our main problems here is that Warner keeps following me wherever I go.

Similarities

As stated above, they both refer to a kind of barrier that holds us back. Look at the following examples:

Example

Madam, your daughter seems to have trust issues.

Here, it means that she has major problems with trusting people and it must be discussed with a psychiatrist.

Wait! The dog seems to be having a problem walking.

Are They Interchangeable?

Although many might mistakenly use these two interchangeably, we suggest you do not. 'Issues' involves discussion and the exchange of ideas. Compare:

Example

✓ If you keep blaming yourself whenever someone has a problem with you, you will never feel confident.

X If you keep blaming yourself whenever someone has an issue with you, you will never feel confident.

As you can see, this one does not really make sense.

Comments

(3)
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Oct 2023
Policy issue
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andrew Breslin
Jun 2023
Thank you for this. I can't tell you how frustrating it is that the word "issue" is so often misued as if it means "problem" and not "important subject to be discussed." Young folk today may be shocked to learn that nobody EVER used contructions such as "this might cause issues" or "let me know if you experience any issues" or "he is suffering from serious health issues" before the 21st century. For centuries before that, people refered to problems as "problems." Issues were raised. Issues were discussed. But they were never caused or solved, because you can't cause a subject or solve a topic. What makes it more frustrating is that it is pretty obvious that this perversion of the language came directly from corporations and politicians who didn't want to use the word "problem" because it has a negative connotation . . . which it should. Because problems are ... problematic. (Some analysts point to Microsoft which adopted this language in its documentation, because nobody ever had a "Problem" with their products, or they certainly didn;t want to admit that). So instead they substituted this other word, which did NOT mean problem, to refer to problems without saying the dreaded word "problem." They insisted on calling them "issues" precisely because "issue" was just a neutral word with no negative connotations which did not imply that anything was wrong. And then a generation of idiots just went along with it like sheep. And now that they've succeeded in essentially destroying this perfectly good word and giving it a negative connotation, will they now take some other perfectly neutral word with no negative connotations, and that will be what they use to refer to "problems" now that everyone thinks that's what "issue" means? Will we experience software topics, and health subjects? I find such usage highly issuematic.
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Langeek
Jun 2023
Thank you for your feedback on the usage of "problem" and "issue." Language evolves, and words can acquire new meanings. While the expanded use of "issue" to refer to problems may be frustrating, language is shaped by various factors. It's important to recognize that words can have multiple meanings depending on the context. As language continues to evolve, new terms may emerge to describe different aspects. We appreciate your engagement with our article and thank you for sharing your perspective.
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