at the last question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the last question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the final question in a series or discussion. Example: "I realized my mistake at the last question of the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"At the last question, Ayrton started crying, and I asked Reginaldo what the question was.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

JAMES SUROWIECKI: This gets at the same issues as the last question.

The New Yorker

In that case, look at the last questions and choose two you like best, and try to answer them.

WikiHow

The answer, at least to the last question, is "yes".

The New York Times

The year the scientists met at Dartmouth, Asimov published "The Last Question," a story featuring a superintelligent A.I. that is continually "self-adjusting and self-correcting" — gaining knowledge as it helps human civilization expand throughout the universe.

The New Yorker

The answer to the last question, at least in some minds, is "not necessarily".

The New York Times

The papers have begun digging back into them and at this morning press conference – the last question – the Mail raised Lord Ashcroft's weekend allegations, reported in Saturday's Guardian, that Baldwin also used private eyes to "blag" private bank account details that would expose then-tax exile Lord A's scale of donations to the Tories.

The Guardian

One such regular, Raghubir Goyal, of the site India Globe, even got to ask the last question at Monday's briefing. .

Huffington Post

David White, installed on Monday as interim executive director, at least provided some clarity on the last question, posting a letter on the guild's Web site.

The New York Times

The last question asked at a debate, which related to women was directed toward Ted Cruz.

Huffington Post

If, however, the same item was administered at the 45th position (i.e., the last question) on the test, then the estimated difficulty of the item would become (- 3.244 + (45 *.037) = - 1.579).

Large-scale Assessments in Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at the last question", ensure that the context clearly indicates a series of questions or inquiries being made. This helps to avoid ambiguity and ensures clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "at the last question" when you simply mean "finally" or "eventually". This phrase is specifically tied to a series of questions, not a general sequence of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the last question" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb by specifying when or during what point in the questioning process something occurred. Ludwig AI examples show it relates to moments within a discussion or exam setting.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the last question" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to specify the timing of an event within a series of inquiries. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its widespread use across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general discussions. The phrase functions as an adverbial modifier, providing clarity about when something occurred in relation to a final inquiry. While not overtly formal, the phrase is versatile and fits a neutral register. To ensure clarity, it's best used when the context explicitly involves a series of questions, and its importance is in signaling the exact position of the event of interest within that series.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regarding the final question

Focuses on the topic of the final question, shifting from the location to the subject.

concerning the last query

Uses "query" as a synonym for "question", offering a slightly more formal tone.

on the concluding question

Emphasizes the concluding nature of the question, highlighting its position.

with respect to the final inquiry

Provides a more formal and elaborate alternative using "with respect to".

in relation to the final question

Similar to "with respect to", but slightly less formal.

about the ending question

Simplifies the wording, replacing "last" with "ending".

pertaining to the last question

Offers a more formal and technical alternative using "pertaining to".

in connection with the last question

Highlights the link or relevance to the final question.

on the subject of the last question

Emphasizes the topic or subject matter of the last question.

considering the final question

Shifts the focus to contemplation or evaluation of the final question.

FAQs

How can I use "at the last question" in a sentence?

You can use "at the last question" to refer to the final inquiry in a series of questions, such as, "At the last question, the interviewee revealed their long-term career goals."

What is a similar phrase to "at the last question"?

Similar phrases include "regarding the final question", "concerning the last query", or "on the concluding question". You can also try "in relation to the final question".

Is it correct to say "in the last question" instead of "at the last question"?

While "in the last question" can sometimes work, "at the last question" is often preferred when referring to a specific point or moment during a series of questions. Using "in" might suggest being contained within the question's content rather than the point in the sequence.

What's the difference between "at the last question" and "the last question"?

"At the last question" pinpoints a specific moment or point during a series of questions. "The last question", conversely, refers to the question itself, rather than the act of asking or answering. For example, "Regarding the final question, it's clear that we need to take action. The last question challenged the status quo." In this example the second part should be the subject (the last question) but the first regards the the final question so the semantic shift is in referring to that specific moment/point in time.