a primary question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a primary question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a main or fundamental question that needs to be addressed in a discussion or analysis. Example: "In our research, we identified a primary question that guided our investigation: What factors contribute to climate change?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

So a primary question about the procedure is whether it leads to lasting improvement.

The New York Times - Health

A primary question facing contemporary physics is how to reconcile the two great theories of the last century: quantum mechanics and relativity.

The New York Times

He said a primary question was how many core samples to take to ensure a sufficient range of strength tests without boring so many holes as to damage the building.

The New York Times

Since recent evidences from molecular genetics and genome bioinformatics revealed a more complex nature of rice domestication, a primary question could be whether rice domestication can be defined as an event rather than a process.

Rice

Among those who think that moral knowledge can be acquired via intuition and a priori reasoning, a primary question is whether the kind of justification such methods can generate is coherentist or foundationalist.

SEP

A primary question arising from experimental data is the origin of the high ion conductivity and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity on ionomer-free Pt during PEFC operation when typical ORR potentials are well above commonly measured potentials of zero charge (PZC) for Pt surfaces.

Electrochimica Acta

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

But all three require respondents to clear a higher hurdle of simply yes/no to a Republican primary question.

Huffington Post

Since increasing EPC levels post-stroke were shown to be associated with a favorable outcome, the primary question is whether EPCs are only a surrogate marker of neurological improvement or whether a causal relationship exists.

Critical Care

Data evident in codes was used to develop a framework summarising the primary question of the paper that is how media see their role in reporting of food incidents.

BMC Public Health

We supplement this primary question with a secondary question: can a new network typology be validated through its predictive utility?

Ageing and Society

Since the phase III study failed to reach primary outcome, a main question is why the efficacy differed from the previous phase II study.

Diabetes Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a primary question" to identify the most important issue among several related questions to guide discussions.

Common error

Avoid overshadowing "a primary question" with secondary details. Clearly distinguish the main inquiry from supporting questions to maintain focus and clarity in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a primary question" functions as a noun phrase, typically introducing a fundamental inquiry or key issue. It serves to highlight the most important question within a broader context, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a primary question" is a noun phrase that signifies a main or fundamental inquiry. It is grammatically correct and suitable for formal and neutral contexts. Ludwig AI's analysis shows that it's most frequently used in scientific and news media sources. While the phrase is semantically similar to "a key question" or "a central question", it's important to use it judiciously to emphasize the core issue at hand. To avoid confusion, always distinguish "a primary question" from related secondary inquiries, and clearly state the question being addressed. As a final point, "a primary question" is interchangeable with "the primary question", even if the first usage is more versatile.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a central question

Replaces "primary" with "central", emphasizing the core or main aspect of the question.

a key question

Substitutes "primary" with "key", highlighting the importance of the question.

the main question

Uses "main" instead of "primary", focusing on the principal issue.

a fundamental question

Replaces "primary" with "fundamental", stressing the basic or essential nature of the question.

a core question

Substitutes "primary" with "core", emphasizing the central or most important part of the question.

the leading question

Uses "leading" instead of "primary", which could imply the most pertinent or guiding question.

the principal question

Substitutes "primary" with "principal", indicating the most important or foremost question.

a chief question

Uses "chief" instead of "primary", implying the most important or prominent question.

the overriding question

Replaces "primary" with "overriding", emphasizing the question that takes precedence over others.

the basic question

Substitutes "primary" with "basic", highlighting the elementary or foundational nature of the question.

FAQs

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

You can use "a primary question" to introduce the most important question being addressed in a study, discussion, or analysis. For example, "A primary question is, how can we reduce carbon emissions?"

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

You can use alternatives like "a key question", "a central question", or "the main question" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "a primary question" or "the primary question"?

Both "a primary question" and "the primary question" can be correct, depending on the context. "A primary question" introduces one of several primary questions, while "the primary question" indicates the single most important question.

What's the difference between "a primary question" and "a secondary question"?

"A primary question" refers to the main question or focus of inquiry, while "a secondary question" is a related question that supports or provides additional detail to the primary question.