an ancillary question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an ancillary question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a question that is secondary or supplementary to the main topic or issue being discussed. Example: "While the main focus of our discussion is the budget, I would like to address an ancillary question regarding the timeline for project completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Alan Eastham, the State Department's special negotiator for conflict diamonds, said the free-trade issue had to be resolved but that it was an ancillary question and would not hold up the initiative.

The New York Times

If you believe that the answer to this question is yes, an ancillary question is at what point is violence acceptable when you are being continually subjected to physical abuse by another person?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

III contains an implicit jurisdictional bar and, accordingly, do not address the highly provocative ancillary question whether such a bar would prohibit federal courts from entertaining suits even against consenting States.

Cornell University

There was also the ancillary question of whether Felt was competent to make that decision".

The Guardian

However, any conclusion derived from this approach is confounded by the ancillary question of whether local adaptation to the urban environment predates or arose subsequent to initial lineage splitting between the molecular forms.

BMC Ecology

While it's convenient to dismiss China's veto alliance with Russia as purely ideological, it's nonetheless still important to ask the ancillary questions surrounding China's position: What does China have a stake in?

Huffington Post

"The other kinds of ancillary questions -- the church is in crisis, they need to start ordaining women or they need to stop ordaining homosexuals -- that is the stuff that makes Catholics say, 'Oh, go away.' " Historically, the subject has had little allure for buyers of books.

The New York Times

Thus, discussions of epigenesis and preformation often bring in other ancillary questions and are difficult to separate from their contexts.

SEP

We examined this question in an ancillary study to the Persian Gulf Healthy Heart Study, a cohort study of men and women aged ≥ 25 years.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

"The question is whether he's created an ancillary problem about his truthfulness and upfrontness," said David Doak, a Democratic strategist, expressing a view shared by some Republicans.

Los Angeles Times

Textual criticism, properly speaking, is an ancillary academic discipline designed to lay the foundations for the so-called higher criticism, which deals with questions of authenticity and attribution, of interpretation, and of literary and historical evaluation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an ancillary question" to introduce a secondary but related point during a discussion or analysis. This helps to maintain focus on the primary topic while addressing relevant details.

Common error

Avoid using "an ancillary question" to dismiss a point as irrelevant. While it signifies secondary importance, the question should still contribute to the overall understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an ancillary question" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a question of secondary or supporting importance to a main topic or issue. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written English. Examples show it used in various contexts to introduce related but less critical inquiries.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an ancillary question" is a grammatically sound phrase used to introduce a secondary, related inquiry. According to Ludwig AI, it's a perfectly acceptable phrase for written English. It is most frequently found in news, academic, and scientific sources. While not as common as simpler alternatives, using "an ancillary question" can add precision to your writing by clearly distinguishing between main and supporting points. Remember to use it when you want to address a related detail without losing focus on the primary topic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a secondary question

Replaces "ancillary" with "secondary", emphasizing the lesser importance of the question.

a supplementary question

Uses "supplementary" instead of "ancillary", highlighting the question's role in adding to the main inquiry.

a subordinate question

Emphasizes the hierarchical relationship between the main issue and this question.

a related side question

Highlights the connection to the main topic while indicating it's a separate, less critical issue.

a peripheral question

Focuses on the question being on the edge or outside the central concern.

an additional question

Simple and direct replacement, indicating an extra question beyond the primary ones.

a tangential question

Suggests the question is only loosely related or deviates from the main subject.

a follow-up question

Implies the question arises as a direct result of a previous question or statement.

an associated question

Focuses on the connection or relationship between the main issue and this question.

a supporting question

Suggests the question helps to clarify or provide more context to the main inquiry.

FAQs

How can I use "an ancillary question" in a sentence?

You can use "an ancillary question" to introduce a related but less important point. For example, "While the main issue is funding, "an ancillary question" concerns the project's timeline."

What are some alternatives to saying "an ancillary question"?

Some alternatives include "a secondary question", "a supplementary question", or "a related side question". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "an ancillary question" in formal writing?

Yes, "an ancillary question" is suitable for formal writing as it is grammatically correct and conveys a clear meaning. It is often used in academic, legal, and business contexts.

How does "an ancillary question" differ from "a primary question"?

"An ancillary question" refers to a secondary or supporting question, while "a primary question" is the main question or focus of discussion. The former is less critical to the central issue than the latter.