a fruitful question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fruitful question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a question that is likely to lead to productive discussion or valuable insights. Example: "During the meeting, she posed a fruitful question that sparked a lively debate among the team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In an area with a dense concentration of places of religious worship - not just mosques but many others - does it make sense to make that mosque inaccessible by car?" There was a fruitful question and answer session at the end, which gave Galloway another chance to lambast his Labour opponent.

The Guardian

This is a fruitful question to explore in future studies of asymmetric intergroup bullying and workplace diversity more generally.

Human Relations

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Rather than asking whether gratitude is an obligation, or whether it is a source of obligation, a more fruitful question to ask is whether there are obligations of gratitude (and, if so, what they are).

SEP

However, the normative ethical question as to whether moral bioenhancement as such is good or bad, desirable or not, is not a very fruitful question for further debate.

BMC Medical Ethics

That would be a hard but possibly tremendously fruitful question to answer.

The New York Times - Arts

To the editors at Technology Review, the more fruitful question was: how did Tunisians and Egyptians use social media during the uprisings?

MIT Technology Review

As one of his students has written, "Rather than asking the less than fruitful question of why people break rules, Becker came to focus on how people go through an identifiable process to choose to break rules".

The New Yorker

Eventually these arguments abated and scholars turned from exclusive attention to the matter of Sartre's influence to the more fruitful question of influence in the broader sense.

SEP

The "Plots in Time" symposium is an invitation to return to Veselovsky's fruitful questions.

University of Chicago

Even though they sometimes disagreed, Dr. Pinker said that Dr. Rumelhart's computer simulations "prompted me and many others to ask very fruitful questions, and that in the end is about all a good scientist can ask for".

The New York Times - Health

Beyond culture, there are fruitful questions to be asked about individual experience.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fruitful question" when you want to emphasize that a question is likely to yield useful answers or insights. It's particularly effective in academic, research, or problem-solving contexts.

Common error

While "a fruitful question" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or academic in everyday conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "good question" or "relevant question" when speaking casually.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fruitful question" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "fruitful" modifies the noun "question". It indicates that the question is likely to yield positive or productive results. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts where insightful inquiries are valued.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a fruitful question" describes an inquiry poised to yield valuable results. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, though its usage leans towards formal contexts such as academia, science, and news. While alternatives like "a productive inquiry" or "a valuable question" exist, "a fruitful question" emphasizes the potential for a question to spark meaningful insights. Remember to reserve this phrase for appropriate settings, as it may sound overly formal in casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a productive inquiry

Replaces "fruitful" with "productive", focusing on the efficiency of the question.

a valuable question

Emphasizes the worth or significance of the question being posed.

a worthwhile question

Highlights the merit and benefit of exploring the question.

an insightful question

Focuses on the depth and understanding the question reveals.

a thought-provoking question

Stresses the question's ability to stimulate deeper thought.

a stimulating question

Highlights the question's capacity to encourage discussion and generate ideas.

a promising question

Suggests that the question has the potential to lead to positive results.

a revealing question

Indicates the question's power to uncover important information.

a pertinent question

Emphasizes the question's relevance and appropriateness to the situation.

a beneficial question

Highlights the advantage and positive impact of asking the question.

FAQs

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

Use "a fruitful question" to describe an inquiry that leads to valuable insights or productive discussions. For example, "The researcher posed "a fruitful question" that significantly advanced the study."

What can I say instead of "a fruitful question"?

You can use alternatives such as "a productive inquiry", "a valuable question", or "a worthwhile question", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

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

It's appropriate in contexts where you want to highlight that a question has the potential to generate valuable answers or insights. This is common in academic research, problem-solving, and strategic planning discussions.

Is "a fruitful question" more formal than its alternatives?

Yes, "a fruitful question" is generally more formal than alternatives like "good question" or "relevant question". Consider your audience and the overall tone of your communication when choosing the most appropriate phrase.