bottom of the question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bottom of the question" is not a standard expression in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used when discussing the core or fundamental aspect of a question, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "To truly understand the issue, we need to get to the bottom of the question."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

To try to get to the bottom of the question, David H. Bromwich of Ohio State University pulled together a team that focused on a single temperature record.

The New York Times - Science

First I'd like to say THANK YOU to the hundreds of people who left solutions at the bottom of the question post, on the Guardian Facebook page, on Twitter with the hashtag #MondayPuzzle and in emails to me.

The Guardian

Are we at the bottom of the question yet?

BBC

Using her know-how to access public records under the Freedom of Information Act, Fraidy can rather quickly get to the bottom of the question whether or not a man is married or if he owns property with a woman, his full name, other aliases, credit worthiness and even his political party.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

There are quizzes and there are quizzes, and for every humdinger of a question that spreads its own Yuletide joy through the room, there's the dull satsuma-at-the-bottom-of-the-stocking question that no one really cares about.

Independent

Still, compensation specialists say that bottom-of-the-trough pricing methods raise troubling questions about disclosure practices, including potential backdating.

The New York Times - Tech

When 10 o'clock came, Richard Burr, the Republican senator chairing the hearing, insisted that getting to the bottom of that question was the goal of the Senate intelligence committee's work.

The Guardian

And instead of trying to get to the bottom of the questions surrounding Russia and obstruction of justice, it appears that some legislators consider their primary role as one of protecting the president.

Vice

To get to the bottom of this question, you should talk to as many of the professors as possible who were on the admissions committee and ask them why you were selected to enter the program and listen carefully.

Science Magazine

At Disrupt NY in May, we'll try to get to the bottom of that question.

TechCrunch

I asked Dr. David A. Weintraub, an astronomer at Vanderbilt University who's been trying to get to the bottom of that question.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bottom of the question", ensure the context clearly indicates you are referring to the core or most fundamental aspect of the inquiry. If there's ambiguity, consider using more common alternatives like "core of the question" or "essence of the question".

Common error

Avoid using "bottom of the question" when you intend to discuss the implications or tangential aspects of the inquiry, as this phrase specifically denotes the central issue. Make sure that is what you intend to address.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bottom of the question" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an object of a preposition (e.g., "get to the bottom of the question"). It describes the core or essential aspect of an inquiry that needs to be understood or addressed. Ludwig suggests that while not incorrect, there are better, more common alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bottom of the question" refers to the core or most fundamental element of an inquiry, implying a need to understand the root cause or essential aspect. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig indicates it's not a very common expression, and alternative phrases such as "essence of the question" or "core of the question" might be clearer and more impactful. It is primarily found in News & Media contexts. It’s important to ensure the phrase's meaning is clear in context, as ambiguity could lead to misinterpretation. Ludwig AI also signals that this phrase is not broadly used and understood, so its usage may not be the best choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essence of the question

Focuses on the fundamental nature or most important quality of the question.

core of the question

Highlights the central and most important part of the question.

heart of the matter

Refers to the central point or most important aspect of the issue being questioned.

root of the problem

Shifts the focus to identifying the fundamental cause of a problem within the question.

crux of the issue

Emphasizes the decisive point that requires resolution within the question.

basis of the inquiry

Highlights the foundation or starting point of the question.

substance of the question

Emphasizes the essential content or meaning of the question.

the key question

Highlights the most important question among others.

real question

Highlights the the most genuine and important question.

underlying question

Focuses on the hidden or less obvious question that needs to be addressed.

FAQs

What does "bottom of the question" mean?

The phrase "bottom of the question" refers to the core, fundamental, or most essential aspect of a question or inquiry. It suggests getting to the heart of the matter to understand it fully.

How can I use "bottom of the question" in a sentence?

You might say, "To truly understand the problem, we need to get to the "bottom of the question" and examine its underlying assumptions."

What can I say instead of "bottom of the question"?

You can use alternatives like "essence of the question", "core of the question", or "heart of the matter" depending on the context.

Is "bottom of the question" a common phrase?

While grammatically correct, "bottom of the question" isn't as common as alternatives like "root of the problem" or "crux of the issue". It's important to ensure clarity when using it.