a higher question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a higher question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a question that addresses a more significant or profound issue than the one currently being discussed. Example: "While we can debate the specifics of the policy, I believe we should first consider a higher question: what are our long-term goals as a society?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But others, particularly unions, would say that the argument goes beyond the issue of economic impact and is a higher question of social justice and ensuring that people stay out of poverty.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But we can raise a higher order question: for what reason(s) do modal ascriptions work in the way that Spinoza claims they do?

SEP

We used a quadratic weighted kappa because a categorization mistake between a lower-order question and a higher-order question has more importance than within each category (see Sim and Wright [2005]).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

In some instances, it may be necessary to address a lower-ranked question before a high-ranked question can be fully answered.

Environmental Health Perspectives

There, the question of emancipation was a high religious question.

Huffington Post

During their very first meeting, during which they developed methods to define higher-order questions, they discussed the difference between cognitive level and difficulty and noted that a difficult question is not necessarily a higher-order question.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Participants did not say that all difficult questions are higher order; rather they said that a higher-order question is not easy.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Estimating is often a time-sink and not worth the effort this early on, with such a high-level question.

Harvard Business Review

When Nye asked Gallo a high-minded question about the ages of ice and of water and their relation to the origin of life on Earth, Mirman said, "Yeah — where did life begin?

The New Yorker

And then there's One Madison Park, on 23rd, a slender 50-story glass exclamation point transformed into a high-profile question mark when its construction and sales were halted by financial problems and lawsuits.

The New York Times

All of this raises a high-order question: How will consumers interact with their phones in the future?

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a higher question" when you want to shift the focus from specific details to a more fundamental or profound issue. It signals that the current discussion needs to be reframed within a broader context.

Common error

Avoid using "a higher question" when you actually mean a 'high-level' question. 'High-level' refers to abstract or strategic considerations, while "a higher question" implies a deeper, more philosophical or ethical inquiry.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a higher question" functions as a noun phrase, where "higher" modifies the noun "question". It suggests an inquiry that is elevated in importance, significance, or profundity. Ludwig's examples highlight its usage in diverse contexts, from economic impact to philosophical considerations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a higher question" is a phrase used to introduce a more fundamental or profound inquiry, shifting the focus from immediate details to underlying principles. As highlighted by Ludwig, it appears in diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. While grammatically correct, its frequency is relatively rare. It's important to distinguish it from a "high-level question", which relates to strategy rather than depth. The phrase effectively signals a need for deeper reflection and broader consideration of the subject at hand, making it a valuable tool for thoughtful discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a more profound inquiry

Replaces "question" with "inquiry" and "higher" with "more profound", emphasizing depth.

a more significant question

Substitutes "higher" with "more significant", highlighting the importance of the question.

a deeper question

Replaces "higher" with "deeper", suggesting a question that explores underlying issues.

a more fundamental question

Changes "higher" to "more fundamental", focusing on the foundational nature of the inquiry.

a question of greater importance

Rephrases the entire expression to emphasize the importance of the question.

a more critical question

Replaces "higher" with "more critical", emphasizing the necessity of the question.

a question of principle

Shifts focus to the underlying principle at stake.

a matter of greater consideration

Broadens the scope to any matter that demands more consideration

an overarching question

Emphasizes that the question encompasses many other issues.

a strategic question

Highlights the question's role in planning and goal achievement.

FAQs

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

You can use "a higher question" to introduce a more fundamental or profound issue. For example, "Before debating the budget, we need to consider "a higher question": what are our core values?".

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

You can use alternatives like "a more profound question", "a more significant question", or "a more fundamental inquiry", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a higher question" the same as a "high-level question"?

No, "a higher question" and a "high-level question" are not the same. "A higher question" implies a deeper, more philosophical inquiry, while a "high-level question" refers to a more abstract or strategic one.

When is it appropriate to use "a higher question" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "a higher question" when you want to elevate the discussion beyond specific details and address the underlying principles or values at stake. Use it to introduce a more fundamental or philosophical inquiry.