an inconsequential question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an inconsequential question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a question that is not significant or important in the context of a discussion or situation. Example: "While I appreciate your curiosity, that is really just an inconsequential question that doesn't affect our main topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

I always wanted to ask him little harmless questions, like, "Mr. Mara, when you are down, 20 to zip, and you've got the ball with two minutes remaining in the half, why do the Giants run out the clock?" Just an inconsequential meaningless question like that.

The New York Times - Sports

The central concern driving the many supernatural investigations of these luminaries was the not inconsequential question of whether life exists after death.

The New York Times - Books

And many complain that Mr. Feinberg's staff members can be overly technical in allowing minor problems on applications -- like failing to check off the box to one inconsequential question -- to derail the process for weeks.

The New York Times

But as usual, Jeeves was more interested in telling me about his totally inconsequential 'Question of the Day' than digging me out of my own, very serious, trivia quandary.

Vice

While my "struggle" had dealt with the inconsequential question of paint color, theirs often involved significant choices such as how to allocate financial resources for retirement, when to activate a long-term care insurance policy, and whether to seek out a residential care option.

Huffington Post

The work was silent, indolent clicking of "strongly agree" or "mostly disagree" on a slew of inconsequential questions about Netflix.

Vice

Nearly 30 years after that show aired, we finally get lucid answers to the not inconsequential questions of how and why Sam Phillips led an ad hoc assemblage of unknown and untested poor young musicians to combine the sounds of blues and country music, harnessing a raw carnality to make what would become known as rock 'n' roll.

The New York Times - Books

Long wait, then when connection is made, the other end asks inconsequential questions with mounting toll, and finally the originating caller is disconnected before getting his call through.

The New Yorker

Long wait, then when connection is made, the other end asks inconsequential questions with mounting toll, and finally the originating caller is disconnected before getting his call through View Article By Larissa MacFarquhar By Rivka Galchen By David Remnick By Malcolm Gladwell.

The New Yorker

"Where did you get them?" Inconsequential questions I'd forget the answers to immediately after.

Vice

An inconsequential win is still better than an inconsequential loss, right?

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an inconsequential question", ensure that the context clearly establishes why the question lacks importance. This prevents confusion and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "an inconsequential question" to describe a question that is already obviously irrelevant. Instead, focus on questions that might appear relevant at first glance but ultimately prove to be unimportant.

Linguistic Context

An inconsequential question functions as a noun phrase, where 'inconsequential' modifies the noun 'question'. This phrase denotes a question that is not important or significant. Ludwig AI confirms this usability, showing that the phrase is indeed found in the English language.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an inconsequential question" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, used to describe a question lacking importance or significance. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid. While relatively rare, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with alternative expressions including "a trivial question" and "an unimportant question". When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear about the reason for the question's insignificance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a trivial question

Replaces "inconsequential" with "trivial", emphasizing the lack of importance.

an unimportant question

Substitutes "inconsequential" with "unimportant", directly stating the lack of significance.

a minor question

Uses "minor" instead of "inconsequential", suggesting the question is of little concern.

an insignificant question

Replaces "inconsequential" with "insignificant", highlighting the question's negligible impact.

a negligible question

Emphasizes the question's lack of consequence by using "negligible".

a petty question

Replaces "inconsequential" with "petty", suggesting the question is trivial and perhaps annoying.

a trifling question

Uses "trifling" instead of "inconsequential", implying the question is not worth serious consideration.

a lightweight question

Substitutes "inconsequential" with "lightweight", emphasizing the lack of substance in the question.

a shallow question

Uses "shallow" instead of "inconsequential", suggesting the question lacks depth or insight.

a surface-level question

Replaces "inconsequential" with "surface-level", indicating the question only scratches the surface of a topic.

FAQs

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

You can use "an inconsequential question" to describe a query that lacks importance or relevance to the main topic. For instance: "While I appreciate your curiosity, that is really just "an inconsequential question" that doesn't affect our main topic."

What can I say instead of "an inconsequential question"?

You can use alternatives like "a trivial question", "an unimportant question", or "a minor question" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to describe something as "inconsequential"?

It's appropriate when the item or issue has little to no significant impact or consequence on the matter at hand. This could be a detail, a factor, or even "an inconsequential question".

Is there a difference between "an inconsequential question" and "a irrelevant question"?

Yes, while both suggest a lack of importance, "an irrelevant question" implies that the question is not related to the topic at all. "An inconsequential question" suggests it's related but not important.