a critical question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a critical question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an important or essential question that needs to be addressed or considered. Example: "In the context of climate change, a critical question is how we can reduce carbon emissions effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Zolla-Pazner, S. A critical question for HIV vaccine development: which antibodies to induce?

Nature

That is a critical question.

The Guardian - Business

The discovery raised a critical question, however.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nicholas D. Kristof leaves a critical question unasked.

The New York Times

But it leaves a critical question to be answered.

The Guardian

And as with Iraq, a critical question is how intelligence was put to use.

The New York Times

The report hinges on a critical question: Was Clemens's late-career success highly unusual?

The New York Times - Sports

A critical question is whether the project can stay within its $1.2 billion budget.

The New York Times

"A critical question is: How is my success depending on your success?" Hsueh says.

The Guardian

Mr. Brooks says a critical question is "Which talents should we admire most?" in a president.

The New York Times

But, and this is a critical question, one wonders whether a sound moral baseline is enough?

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a critical question" to frame the central inquiry of a research paper or investigation.

Common error

Avoid using "a critical question" when a simpler phrase like "a question" or "an issue" would suffice. Reserve it for situations where the importance of the question is genuinely significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a critical question" functions as a noun phrase, specifically serving as a subject complement or an appositive to introduce or rephrase a question of significant importance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a critical question" is a widely used phrase to emphasize the importance of a particular inquiry. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, especially news, scientific, and formal business writing. When choosing alternatives, consider the specific nuance you wish to convey, such as "a key question" or "an essential question". However, avoid overuse in simple contexts where the significance of the question isn't genuinely high.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a key question

Replaces "critical" with "key", suggesting primary importance.

an essential question

Substitutes "critical" with "essential", emphasizing necessity.

a crucial question

Uses "crucial" instead of "critical", indicating decisive importance.

a vital question

Replaces "critical" with "vital", highlighting life-or-death significance.

a central question

Emphasizes the question's centrality to a broader issue.

a fundamental question

Highlights the foundational nature of the question.

a pressing question

Focuses on the urgency of the question.

a major question

Implies the question has considerable scope or impact.

a significant question

Similar to "important", but with a slightly stronger emphasis.

an important question

A more general alternative, indicating significance.

FAQs

How can I use "a critical question" in a sentence?

You can use "a critical question" to introduce a central point of inquiry, as in "A critical question is whether we can afford this project."

What are some alternatives to "a critical question"?

Alternatives include "a key question", "an essential question", or "a crucial question", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to use "a critical question", or are there times when a simpler phrase is better?

While "a critical question" emphasizes importance, simpler phrases like "a question" or "an issue" may be more appropriate in less formal contexts.

What makes a question "critical"?

A question is "critical" when its answer has a significant impact on the outcome, decision-making process, or understanding of a situation. It signifies that addressing this question is of utmost importance.