a free comment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a free comment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an opinion or remark that is given without any restrictions or conditions. Example: "Feel free to leave a free comment about your thoughts on the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The anonymous questionnaire also had a free comment section for narrative by the students.

BMC Medical Education

The ThyTSQ also offers a free comment section at the end.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Finally, a free comments section at the end allows respondents to indicate further domains not covered in the questionnaire.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

There is a free comments section at the end of the questionnaire where respondents are asked if there is anything else they would like to say about their life with diabetes.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The survey was ended with an open question for any free comments on CDs-eP from the respondents.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Of those 340 respondents, 230 entered a free text comment; after removal of "no comment" or similar entries (n=113), we analysed 117 comments.

British Medical Journal

sign up for a free account: comment on articles and get access to many more articles.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Of those 235 respondents, 160 entered a free text comment.

British Medical Journal

We also include a free text comment field for biocurators to capture additional, pertinent information.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

Evidence of discussion surrounding contraceptive issues was also sought by searching for a free text comment surrounding this issue again at any clinical contact.

BMC Psychiatry

In such cases, the position of the phosphorylation site in PhosphoGRID was mapped to the corresponding residue in the ORF as documented in GenBank and a free text comment in a 'Notes' field was used to document the discrepancy.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a free comment" when you want to explicitly state that someone can express their thoughts or opinions without limitations or censorship.

Common error

Avoid using "a free comment" when you actually mean a comment that doesn't cost money. "Free" in this context refers to the absence of constraints, not monetary value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a free comment" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "free" modifies the noun "comment". It indicates that the comment is given without any constraints or limitations, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a free comment" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, indicating an opinion or remark given without restrictions. According to Ludwig, its usage spans across science and news, although it is not very common. When writing, remember that "free" refers to the absence of constraints, not monetary cost. Alternatives such as "an optional remark" or "a voluntary statement" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a freely given opinion

Highlights the absence of coercion in expressing the opinion.

an optional remark

Emphasizes the non-mandatory nature of the comment.

an open comment

Focuses on the unrestricted nature of the comment.

an unsolicited opinion

Highlights that the comment was given without being asked for.

a voluntary statement

Stresses the willingness of the person making the comment.

an unrestrained remark

Highlights the lack of limitations or censorship.

a no-strings-attached comment

Emphasizes that there are no obligations or expectations associated with the comment.

a spontaneous comment

Indicates the comment was made without prior planning.

a gratuitous remark

Suggests the comment is offered freely, perhaps even unnecessarily.

a candid observation

Focuses on the honesty and straightforwardness of the comment.

FAQs

How can I use "a free comment" in a sentence?

You might say, "The questionnaire includes a section for "a free comment" where participants can share any additional thoughts".

What's the difference between "a free comment" and "an open comment"?

"A free comment" implies a lack of restrictions on the content, while "an open comment" suggests a comment that is available for anyone to view or respond to. While similar, the focus differs slightly.

Which is more appropriate, "a free comment" or "a voluntary comment"?

Both are valid, but ""a free comment"" emphasizes the lack of constraints, while "a voluntary comment" stresses that the comment is given willingly.

Can I use "a free comment" in formal writing?

Yes, it is acceptable in formal writing when you intend to convey that an individual can express their opinions or remarks without any limitations.