a question essentially

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a question essentially" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize the fundamental nature or core aspect of a question being discussed. Example: "What we are really asking here is a question essentially about the nature of truth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The two dependent variables were the most recent A1C value in the patients' medical records and the participants' perceptions of diabetes control, assessed by the question, "How well has your diabetes been controlled?"—a question essentially the same as that used in other studies (6).

Diabetes Care

It was a question essentially about the leader board at the halfway point, which had Woods tied for third at six under, two strokes behind the leaders Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

What the F.A.A. has not addressed is a deeper question: essentially, whether transportation can follow an Internet-style model of dispersed, rather than congested, activity.

The New York Times

Why this is an unfair question- The question essentially asks a traveler to compare diverse experiences, choosing the one that stands out above all others.

Huffington Post

Among Strulovitch's fitful enthusiasms is the question of what it means to be a Jew – the Finkler question, essentially – and Shylock, who has had plenty of time to reflect on the matter (and who also knows a thing or two about errant daughters), provides him with a natural interlocutor.

The Guardian - Books

As there is a finite distance between these two positions that will have been covered an infinite number of times in a finite time, the particle in question essentially evolves like Black's particle analyzed in section 2.4.

SEP

For example, ask, "Will it scale?" This question essentially asks whether an idea is executable.

WikiHow

In the end, the question essentially came down to whether or not consumers were even having a pain point with existing payment methods, and in need of a new solution.

TechCrunch

The question essentially forces candidates to consider their least attractive qualities "and also muster enough courage to share them with someone who holds power over their careers," reports Business Insider's Richard Feloni.

Independent

The Yes campaign says they will keep the pound, the Westminster parties say this is out of the question (essentially this would recreate the euro problem, in which monetary union would exist without political union, see Paul Krugman on this point).

The Economist

Even Einstein, who felt at ease with the idea of wormholes through time, was so bothered by the whole business that, in 1935, he co-authored a paper titled "Can quantum-mechanical description of physical reality be considered complete?" He pointed out some of quantum mechanics's strange implications, and then answered his question, essentially, in the negative.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a question essentially" to clarify a complex issue by distilling it down to its most basic element.

Common error

Avoid using "a question essentially" in contexts where a simpler phrasing like "the main question" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a question essentially" functions as an introductory phrase that highlights the fundamental nature or core aspect of a question. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, marking a valid grammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a question essentially" is a phrase used to emphasize the core or fundamental aspect of a question. Ludwig AI deems it grammatically sound. Although not extremely common, the phrase appears across various domains like news, science, and general writing. It serves to distill complex issues down to their essential components, aiding clarity. When writing, ensure it is used purposefully and avoid overuse in contexts where simpler phrasings suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the fundamental question

Replaces 'essentially' with 'fundamental', directly emphasizing the core nature of the question.

the core question

Uses 'core' as a synonym for 'essentially', emphasizing the central aspect.

the crux of the question

Uses 'crux' to highlight the most vital point of the question.

the key question

Uses 'key' to emphasize the crucial nature of the question.

at its heart, the question

Rearranges the sentence to put emphasis on the core aspect, using 'at its heart'.

the underlying question

Highlights the foundational or basic question beneath the surface.

the real question

Highlights the genuine or true question.

the heart of the matter

Changes the structure to a noun phrase emphasizing the core issue.

the basic question

Replaces "essentially" with the adjective "basic", which has less emphasis than the adverb essentially.

the main question

Uses 'main' to highlight the most important question.

FAQs

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

You can use "a question essentially" to introduce the core or fundamental aspect of a topic. For example, "The debate boils down to "a question essentially" about ethics".

What phrases are similar to "a question essentially"?

Similar phrases include "the "fundamental question"", "the "core question"", or "the "crux of the matter"".

Is it more formal to say "a question essentially" or "the basic question"?

"A question essentially" and "the "basic question"" are relatively neutral in formality. The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis. "A question essentially" might be perceived as slightly more emphatic.

What is the difference between "a question essentially" and "a matter of"?

"A question essentially" highlights the fundamental query or problem, while "a matter of" implies something depending on or relating to a specific condition or aspect. They address slightly different aspects of an issue.