crucial question

USAGE SUMMARY

"crucial question" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used when referring to an issue that must be resolved in order for something else to happen. For example: "What does the company do if their most profitable product fails? That is the crucial question that must be answered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Governments are evading a crucial question.

The Economist

This is a crucial question indeed.

The New York Times

This is the crucial question.

Harvard Business Review

This crucial question remains unanswered.

The New York Times

This begs a crucial question.

The Guardian

"That's the most crucial question.

The Guardian

That crucial question is ignored.

The Guardian - Business

A crucial question remains, however.

The Guardian

But artistic leadership remains the crucial question.

The New York Times - Arts

Now the crucial question then is what does good mean?

Yale University

That is a crucial question that scholarship should focus on.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crucial question" to highlight the single most important inquiry that needs answering in a given situation. It adds weight to the importance of finding a suitable resolution.

Common error

While "crucial question" effectively emphasizes importance, overusing it can diminish its impact. Vary your language by using alternatives like "key question", "essential question", or "vital question" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crucial question" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a question that is of utmost importance to answer or consider. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its analysis of numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "crucial question" is a common and grammatically sound way to emphasize the importance of a particular inquiry. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is frequently used in News & Media, Science and Academic contexts to pinpoint a key issue requiring consideration. While interchangeable with alternatives like "key question" or "essential question", overuse can diminish its impact; therefore, varying language is advisable. The phrase serves to highlight the significance of finding a resolution, making it an effective tool for emphasizing the core of a discussion or investigation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

key question

Replaces "crucial" with "key", suggesting a primary point of inquiry.

essential question

Substitutes "crucial" with "essential", emphasizing necessity.

vital question

Replaces "crucial" with "vital", highlighting importance to life or existence.

pivotal question

Uses "pivotal" instead of "crucial", indicating a turning point.

critical question

Employs "critical" instead of "crucial", stressing the importance of careful judgment.

central question

Replaces "crucial" with "central", denoting the main point.

fundamental question

Substitutes "crucial" with "fundamental", highlighting the base or foundation.

core question

Replaces "crucial" with "core", indicating the most important or essential part.

primary question

Employs "primary" instead of "crucial", emphasizing the first or most significant matter.

most important question

Expresses "crucial question" by stating directly its level of importance.

FAQs

How can I use "crucial question" in a sentence?

You can use "crucial question" to emphasize the most important issue that needs to be addressed in a situation. For example, "The "crucial question" is, how do we increase sales next quarter?"

What can I say instead of "crucial question"?

You can use alternatives like "key question", "essential question", or "vital question" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "crucial question" or "critical question"?

Both "crucial question" and "critical question" are correct, but "crucial" emphasizes decisive importance, while "critical" stresses the importance of careful judgment. Choose the one that best fits the situation.

What's the difference between "crucial question" and "important question"?

"Crucial question" implies a higher degree of significance compared to "important question". A ""crucial question"" is essential for progress or resolution, whereas an "important question" is simply worth considering.