aside question

USAGE SUMMARY

"aside question" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to introduce a question that is related to the primary topic of conversation but isn't central to it. For example: We were discussing ways to reduce pollution, when I asked an aside question: What about the potential benefits of nuclear energy?.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Put aside question marks over Murdoch's handling of News International.

The Guardian - Business

Later, at his daily briefing, Michael D. McCurry, the White House press secretary, brushed aside question after question about Mr. Clinton's conduct, saying he could not answer because of the special prosecutor's investigation into the President.

The New York Times

They may be tempted to put this novel aside, question the commitment, pick it up again, review earlier pages for missed clues and sigh, looking at all the appealing, shorter books on the nightstand.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He brushed aside questions about the Bentley.

The New York Times

BUT leave aside questions of fairness and race.

The New York Times

But he cheerfully brushed aside questions about his favorite candidate.

The New York Times

At the news conference, Mr. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein brushed aside questions about logistics.

The New York Times

Enthusiasm aside, questions regarding the significance and validity of intrinsic brain phenomena remain.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

At their joint appearance, the party leaders easily brushed aside questions about their ideological differences.

The Economist

They brushed aside questions about parliamentary democracy being undermined by a minority of street protesters.

The Economist

United Russia leaders and election officials brushed aside questions about fraud, saying that the election was honest.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "aside question" to introduce a query that, while relevant, doesn't directly address the primary subject of conversation, allowing for a brief divergence without derailing the main discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "aside question" when the query is central to the topic; reserve it for related but non-essential inquiries to maintain focus.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aside question" serves as a discourse marker, signaling a shift to a related but non-central inquiry. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's a grammatically correct construction used to introduce a tangential point.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "aside question" is a grammatically sound way to introduce a query that's related but not central to the ongoing discussion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct phrase. While its usage isn't very common, occurring mostly in news and media contexts, it serves to signal a temporary divergence. Remember to reserve it for inquiries that support, not distract from, the primary subject. Alternatives like "tangential question" or "by the way question" can also serve a similar purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tangential question

Changes "aside" to "tangential", indicating a question that is related but not central.

incidental question

Replaces "aside" with "incidental", suggesting a question that arises as a minor point.

secondary question

Substitutes "aside" with "secondary", implying a question of lesser importance.

related question

Uses "related" instead of "aside", focusing on the connection to the main topic.

additional question

Employs "additional" to indicate a question being added to the discussion.

supplementary question

Replaces "aside" with "supplementary", suggesting a question that adds to or completes the main topic.

by the way question

Uses "by the way" to introduce a question that is slightly off-topic.

unrelated question

Emphasizes that the question is not directly connected to the main subject.

follow up question

Focuses on the question being a direct response to a previous statement or question.

irrelevant question

Highlights that the question does not pertain to the current discussion.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "aside question" in a conversation?

Introduce the question with a phrase that signals its tangential nature. For example, "On a related note, and as an aside question..." can smoothly incorporate the query.

What's the difference between an "aside question" and a follow-up question?

An "aside question" diverges slightly from the main topic, while a follow-up question directly expands on a previous point. Consider using a "follow up question" when clarification is needed.

Is it appropriate to use "aside question" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "aside question" is generally more suitable for informal or semi-formal contexts. In formal writing, consider rephrasing for a more direct approach or using phrases like "related to this".

What can I say instead of using "aside question" to introduce a somewhat unrelated query?

You can use alternatives such as "On a related note", "Speaking of which", or "By the way" to introduce a query that's not directly connected to the main topic. See also: "tangential question".