basis bench mark burden cardinal point case chapter chief thing climax concern core cornerstone crisis critical point crux essence essential essential matter focus of attention focus of interest fundamental gist gravamen great point head heading heart high point important thing issue kernel keystone landmark living issue main thing material point matter matter in hand meat milestone motif motive nub pith pivot point point at issue point in question problem question real issue recap recapitulation resume rubric run-through rundown salient point sine qua non subject subject matter subject of thought substance substantive point sum sum and substance summary summation text the bottom line the point theme topic turning point