an important question is

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an important question is" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction in written English.
It is typically used to introduce a significant topic or idea that will be discussed in the following sentence or paragraph. Example: "An important question is whether climate change is caused by human activity or natural cycles."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wrong, but an important question, is okay.

The Economist

Finally, an important question is whether other countries can learn from the German experience.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Well, firstly, an important question: is it good?

Vice

Therefore, an important question is: can understanding of risk information be improved?

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Secondly, an important question is how the pattern is acquired in a non-analytical approach.

BMC Oral Health

But an important question is whether mesocotyl elongation is tightly linked to plant height.

BMC Plant Biology

Within the proposed framework, an important question is how often the SNP variances should be estimated.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

Thus, an important question is how these signals are integrated in the cells.

BMC Cancer

However, an important question is whether dietary interventions are effective in lowering colorectal cancer risk.

BioMed Research International

An important question is: why such a big potential is only marginally utilized?

Applied Energy

An important question is how to achieve such an improvement.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an important question is" to introduce a query that deserves considerable attention or investigation within your text. This sets the stage for a more detailed exploration or argument.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "an important question is". Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony. Consider alternatives to introduce different facets of your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an important question is" functions as an introductory phrase, signaling the presentation of a significant inquiry. As Ludwig AI indicates, it sets the stage for exploring a key issue or problem. Examples from various sources illustrate its use in initiating discussions across diverse fields.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

27%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an important question is" serves as a pivotal tool for introducing significant inquiries across various domains. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and used to set the stage for deeper exploration. It's most commonly found in scientific and news media contexts, reflecting its utility in analytical and investigative discourse. While the phrase is appropriate for both neutral and formal registers, overuse should be avoided to maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a key question is

Replaces 'important' with 'key', indicating a central or crucial question.

a crucial question is

Substitutes 'important' with 'crucial', emphasizing the critical nature of the question.

the central question is

Uses 'central' instead of 'important', focusing on the core issue.

a significant question is

Replaces 'important' with 'significant', highlighting the weight of the question.

the key issue is

Shifts from 'question' to 'issue', broadening the scope while maintaining importance.

the main concern is

Focuses on 'concern' instead of 'question', emphasizing worry or interest.

a pressing question is

Replaces 'important' with 'pressing', indicating urgency.

the fundamental question is

Substitutes 'important' with 'fundamental', stressing the basic or foundational nature of the question.

what really matters is

Changes the structure to emphasize the importance of the matter directly.

the critical point is

Replaces 'question' with 'point', altering the framing slightly to emphasize a specific element.

FAQs

How can I use "an important question is" in a sentence?

Use "an important question is" to introduce a significant query that your text will address. For example, "An important question is whether current environmental policies are sufficient to combat climate change."

What are some alternatives to using "an important question is"?

You can use alternatives like "a key question is", "the central question is", or "a significant question is" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "an important question is"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "an important question is". It's a common and accepted way to introduce a significant inquiry.

What's the difference between "an important question is" and "a relevant question is"?

"An important question is" emphasizes the significance or weight of the inquiry, while "a relevant question is" highlights its pertinence or connection to the current topic.