a thoughtful question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a thoughtful question" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a question that demonstrates careful consideration or deep thinking. Example: "During the discussion, she posed a thoughtful question that prompted everyone to reflect on their beliefs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

If asked a thoughtful question, Jeter will invariably provide a printable answer.

The New York Times - Sports

Challenged by a thoughtful question about how to retain the liquidity benefits of money-market funds without having government subsidise, or obscure, their risk, Ms White gave an indecipherable reply.She was at her clearest when stating that the SEC needed to improve its response to the rule-writing requirements of the Dodd-Frank act.

The Economist

In this case, a thoughtful question may be posed about the way of weighting different opinions [17], and the consequent accountability, transparency and coherence of the method [90].

European Transport Research Review

In 1936 Roosevelt had won his record landslide, but in the 1938 midterm election the GOP reclaimed some House and Senate seats–not enough to form a majority, but enough to place a thoughtful question mark over Democratic certitude.

Forbes

Their genuine hospitality, exhibited in the most humble of manners - a warm welcome, a genuine smile, a thoughtful question, a deliberate acknowledgement - was enough to replenish and restore my soul, fulfilling the mission of my two-week long European adventure.

Huffington Post

"That nudge of permission come in the form of a good hug, a thoughtful question, an honest story, an actual dance party, or just letting someone hang at tea time for a little," said Ankit.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Hoffman also asks himself an astute, thoughtful question: "There's a period of time in your life when I kind of look back, and I'm like, was I happy, or was I just not aware?" Even after his death, Hoffman continues to give us all something to pause and think about.

Huffington Post

Very often women will ask me, "How is it to be a woman here?" That's a thoughtful, squishy question — a little bit of, "How will I do in this environment?" So they care about that connection between people.

The New York Times

Underpinning the whole enterprise, which is based on a Vertigo comic, is a thoughtful philosophical question: Maybe Liv's life is better now that it has changed so radically.

Huffington Post

Ms. Polgreen, The Times's New Delhi-based South Asia correspondent since 2009, answered a series of thoughtful questions from readers on a range of topics, from corruption to Kashmir to H1B visas and more.

The New York Times

He asked a lot of thoughtful questions and made notes, as he hadn't interviewed in many years.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a thoughtful question" to show respect for someone's inquisitiveness.

Common error

Ensure you're not accidentally implying the opposite of what you intend. "A thoughtful question" suggests consideration, whereas a thoughtless one is impulsive or ill-considered.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a thoughtful question" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "thoughtful" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "question". Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where the phrase is employed to describe the quality of a question.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a thoughtful question" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe inquiries that reflect careful consideration and insight. Ludwig AI analysis of various sources, including news outlets and academic publications, indicates its usage across diverse contexts. While "a thoughtful question" is generally neutral in tone, it is most frequently found in news and media, followed by scientific contexts. Alternatives include "a wise question" or "a insightful question", but care should be taken to ensure the adjective accurately reflects the nature and intent of the question being described. The overall assessment is that it's a valuable phrase for praising inquisitiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a wise question

Replaces 'thoughtful' with 'wise', emphasizing the intelligence behind the question.

a insightful question

Replaces 'thoughtful' with 'insightful', focusing on the depth of understanding the question reveals.

a serious question

Replaces 'thoughtful' with 'serious', highlighting the gravity of the question.

a well thought out question

Rephrases to emphasize the process of thinking that went into formulating the question.

a probing question

Emphasizes the depth and thoroughness of the question.

a purposeful question

Highlights the intent and direction behind the question.

a reflexive question

Focuses on the self-reflective nature the question may invoke.

a poignant question

Emphasizes the emotional impact or relevance of the question.

a caring question

Replaces 'thoughtful' by 'caring', underlining the empathy behind the question.

a nice question

Changes "thoughtful" with "nice", focusing on how agreeable the question is.

FAQs

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

You can use "a thoughtful question" to describe a question that shows careful consideration or deep thinking. For instance, "She posed "a thoughtful question" about the ethical implications of the research."

What's the difference between "a thoughtful question" and "a thought-provoking question"?

"A thoughtful question" demonstrates careful consideration by the asker, whereas "a thought-provoking question" stimulates deep thinking in the listener. The former focuses on the questioner's intent; the latter, on the question's impact.

What are some alternatives to "a thoughtful question"?

Alternatives include "a wise question", "a serious question", or "a insightful question", each emphasizing a different aspect of the question's quality.

Is it always appropriate to describe a question as "a thoughtful question"?

Describing a question as ""a thoughtful question"" is appropriate when the question reflects careful consideration, insight, or depth. It might be less fitting if the question is simple or routine.