a frivolous question

USAGE SUMMARY

'a frivolous question' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a question that is seen as unnecessary or not important. For example, "He was surprised when I asked him a frivolous question about his new car."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

What the earliest speaking ancestors spoke about is hardly a frivolous question.

The New York Times

How women look, and how their looks change in the course of their lives, is not a frivolous question.

The New Yorker

Why would this be a frivolous question to investigate?

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's a less frivolous question than it first seems; getting inside the minds of monkeys tells us much about what it means to be a monkey.

BBC

With this information in mind ― or in his producers' minds ― CNN host Jake Tapper begrudgingly asked Sanders an "admittedly rather frivolous" question over the weekend.

Huffington Post

These often turn out to be more informative than the initial questioner may have envisaged: for example, the somewhat frivolous question "What's the best way to stop Velociraptor attacks?" (http://www.askabiologist.org.uk/answers/viewtopic.php?id=988) attracted six answers.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Now that it takes us only a few seconds or minutes to get an answer, we ask a lot of frivolous questions (along with the important ones, of course).Taking this effect into account involves estimating a "demand curve for questions" as a function of the "cost of getting answers".

The Economist

Asked the frivolous question as to which of the dictators he would have preferred spending a weekend with, Bullock replied promptly, "Hitler, because although it would have been boring in the extreme, you would have have had a greater certainty in coming back alive".

The Guardian

When they tried to register they were confronted by a number of humiliatingly frivolous questions to "test" their literacy, the most infamous of which was "how many bubbles are there in a bar of soap?" When they couldn't answer, they couldn't vote.

Independent

A couple of weeks ago, when I first tried out the system, I went through a list of serious and frivolous questions, all of which elicited good, or at least reasonable, responses.

The New York Times

But fame did not prevent him from answering some utterly frivolous questions in an interview during his visit to New York this week.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a frivolous question" when you want to convey that a question lacks seriousness, importance, or intellectual depth. Ensure the context supports this interpretation, as the phrase can sometimes sound dismissive.

Common error

Avoid using "a frivolous question" when you simply mean a difficult or complex question. The term implies a lack of importance, not a lack of answerability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a frivolous question" functions as a noun phrase where "frivolous" modifies the noun "question". It describes the nature or quality of the question being asked. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a frivolous question" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe an inquiry lacking seriousness or importance. Ludwig's AI confirms its usability in written English. While relatively rare, its occurrence in news and media suggests a neutral register, though its dismissive connotation should be considered. Alternatives such as "an unimportant query" or "a trivial inquiry" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context. Remember to use the phrase when intending to convey a lack of significance rather than difficulty, as misinterpreting this connotation can lead to miscommunication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unimportant query

Replaces "frivolous" with a direct synonym emphasizing lack of importance.

a trivial inquiry

Substitutes "frivolous" with "trivial", highlighting the insignificant nature of the question.

a pointless question

Focuses on the lack of purpose or value in asking the question.

a superficial question

Highlights the lack of depth or seriousness in the question.

a shallow question

Similar to "superficial", emphasizing the lack of intellectual depth.

an inconsequential question

Emphasizes that the question has no significant consequences or impact.

a petty question

Suggests the question is small-minded or concerned with unimportant details.

a silly question

Emphasizes the foolish or nonsensical nature of the question.

a facetious question

Indicates the question is not meant to be taken seriously, possibly sarcastic.

a nonsensical question

Highlights the lack of logic or reason behind the question.

FAQs

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

You can use "a frivolous question" to describe an inquiry that lacks seriousness or importance. For example, "During the serious debate, he interrupted with "a frivolous question" about the speaker's tie."

What's a good alternative to "a frivolous question"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a trivial inquiry", "an unimportant query", or "a pointless question".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a frivolous question"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that a question is not worth serious consideration due to its lack of importance or relevance. Be mindful of the tone, as it can sound dismissive.

What's the difference between "a frivolous question" and "a complex question"?

"A frivolous question" implies the question is unimportant or silly, while "a complex question" suggests it's difficult to answer due to its intricate nature. They address different qualities of the question.