abrupt question

USAGE SUMMARY

"abrupt question" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You might use it when referring to an unexpected, sudden, or abrupt question. For example, "John interrupted the conversation with an abrupt question about where I lived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Moments later, Suzanne Reeves, 64, made Mr. Corzine blush with an abrupt question about his marital status.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The shop assistant is abrupt when the question comes.

The Guardian

The answers became shorter, terser and tenser and the interview was brought to an abrupt end after one question too many.

The Guardian - Sport

But, despite Bob's abrupt departure, Jacqui never questioned his loyalty.

The New Yorker

Certainly Mr. El-Erian's abrupt announcement will raise questions about his decision to leave.

The New York Times

The project's original goal was to examine the link between hypoxia and cognitive decline by examining human performance in low-oxygen environments, but its abrupt end has sparked questions of a different sort.

Science Magazine

As the dust settles, weeks after Michael Hastings's Rolling Stone article, "The Runaway General," resulted in the abrupt dismissal of General Stanley McChrystal, questions are being asked about whether or not there will be new rules of engagement -- between the military and the press.

Huffington Post

The abrupt discontinuation also calls into question whether inhaled insulin — once viewed as a potential multibillion-dollar market worldwide — will ever be able to compete with conventional injectable insulin as a treatment for diabetes.

The New York Times

As Masha Lipman writes, that was the question following the abrupt departure of Anatoly Serdyukov, who was reportedly found in a bathrobe and slippers when police raided the home of his alleged mistress in the early hours of the morning.

The New Yorker

This raises the question; did the abrupt increase in HR cause a concomitant reduction of PRSW, or was the increase in HR a spontaneous compensatory reflex aimed at elevating cardiac contractility?

Critical Care

Likewise, the ending, after many pages of strong plotting and dense description, feels abrupt and leaves too many questions un-answered, even after a close reading.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "abrupt question" when you want to emphasize that a question was asked suddenly and perhaps unexpectedly, potentially disrupting the flow of conversation or revealing something previously unmentioned.

Common error

Be careful not to use "abrupt question" when you really mean a rude or insensitive question. While an abrupt question can sometimes be perceived as rude, the key is the suddenness and unexpected nature of the question, not necessarily its intent or content. A question can be abrupt without being intentionally offensive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abrupt question" functions as a noun phrase, where "abrupt" is an adjective modifying the noun "question". It describes a specific type of question characterized by its suddenness. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "abrupt question" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a question characterized by its suddenness and unexpectedness. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its usage is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. It's crucial to consider the potential connotations of surprise or disruption when employing this phrase, and to distinguish it from concepts like rudeness or insensitivity. Alternatives such as "sudden inquiry" or "unexpected query" may be considered for varying degrees of emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sudden inquiry

Replaces "question" with "inquiry" and "abrupt" with "sudden", emphasizing the unexpected nature of the question.

unexpected query

Substitutes "question" with "query" and "abrupt" with "unexpected", focusing on the surprise element.

unforeseen question

Emphasizes the lack of anticipation associated with the question by replacing "abrupt" with "unforeseen".

unprompted question

Replaces "abrupt" to describe a question asked without any prior prompting or encouragement.

blunt inquiry

Replaces "abrupt" with "blunt", suggesting a direct and possibly insensitive question.

startling question

Replaces "abrupt" with "startling", highlighting the surprising or alarming nature of the question.

sharp interrogation

Replaces both words to convey a more aggressive and incisive questioning style.

out-of-the-blue question

Replaces "abrupt" with a more colloquial expression emphasizing the unexpected appearance of the question.

terse question

Substitutes "abrupt" with "terse", indicating a brief and concise question.

unexpected line of questioning

Broadens the phrase to refer to a series of unexpected questions, changing the grammatical structure.

FAQs

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

You can use "abrupt question" to describe a question that is sudden and unexpected. For example, "The lawyer's "abrupt question" caught the witness off guard."

What's the difference between "abrupt question" and "direct question"?

"Abrupt question" emphasizes the suddenness or unexpected nature of the question, while "direct question" focuses on the straightforward and unambiguous nature of the question. A direct question may not necessarily be abrupt, and an "abrupt question" may not always be direct.

What can I say instead of "abrupt question"?

You can use alternatives such as "sudden inquiry", "unexpected query", or "startling question" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "abrupt question" always negative?

Not necessarily. While an "abrupt question" can sometimes be perceived negatively, particularly if it's intrusive or disrupts a conversation, it can also simply describe a question that is sudden and unexpected without any negative connotation. The context usually determines whether it is perceived as positive, negative, or neutral.