decisive question

USAGE SUMMARY

"decisive question" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It refers to a question that is important or critical in making a decision or determining an outcome. Example: "In order to choose the right candidate, we must ask ourselves one decisive question: who has the most experience and qualifications for the job?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Again, the decisive question is not to what extent the IPCC directly influenced policy decisions, but rather to what extent the IPCC helped facilitate deliberative policy learning in these cases.

Nature

"As long as the decisive question is sentiments, you don't have to ask any of the practical questions".

The New York Times

"In Europe, the decisive question is whether a merger will create or strengthen a position of market dominance.

The New York Times

The decisive question in this case is whether the contract between the railway company and the Munsey Company is repugnant to the acts of Congress regulating commerce.

Cornell University

At heart, the decisive question for most Crotonese is the economic potential, and Mayor Sitra argues that the base will hurt rather than help.

The New York Times

This is undeniably true, so the decisive question is this: do patients who consult chiropractors have more strokes than patients who do not?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

To the decisive questions — "Why be a Christian?" and "Why be a Jew?" — liberal theology offered no answer at all.

The New York Times - Magazine

Every day in the yard he floated about asking vague, but decisive, questions: "Rest him tomorrow, don't you think?" In the evenings, again, he wandered and studied.

The Economist

Quite apart from questions of integrity and justice — and those, of course, are the big and decisive questions — how much has all this cost?

The New Yorker

Many decisive questions still remain open, and despite the reams of technical jargon written about this case, its core is not primarily technical, but political.

The Guardian - Tech

The editor moved the debate on to the decisive questions of how to translate the Guardian's values and principles into a succinct editorial message – as he put it, separating the matters of principle from the pragmatic issue of how to reconcile them with the First Past the Post system we have.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add emphasis, consider restructuring the sentence to begin with the "decisive question", followed by an explanation of its importance.

Common error

Avoid using "decisive question" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "main question" or "key issue" are often more appropriate in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decisive question" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "decisive" modifies the noun "question". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It typically introduces a key inquiry that needs to be answered to reach a resolution or make a significant decision.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

29%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decisive question" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to emphasize a pivotal question that is essential for decision-making and comprehension. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its versatility spans across various contexts from neutral news reports to formal academic papers. While predominantly found in News & Media and Science publications, it's important to consider the register, avoiding overuse in casual settings. Alternatives like "key question" or "critical question" may offer similar emphasis while fitting a broader range of communication styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

key question

Replaces "decisive" with "key", emphasizing importance.

critical question

Substitutes "decisive" with "critical", highlighting the importance of the question.

pivotal question

Replaces "decisive" with "pivotal", indicating a turning point.

central question

Changes "decisive" to "central", focusing on the core aspect.

crucial question

Substitutes "decisive" with "crucial", stressing the importance of the question.

essential question

Replaces "decisive" with "essential", emphasizing necessity.

determining question

Changes "decisive" to "determining", focusing on the power to influence the decision.

main question

Substitutes "decisive" with "main", indicating the primary focus.

primary concern

Shifts from a question to a concern, highlighting a fundamental issue.

core issue

Replaces "decisive question" with "core issue", focusing on the essential problem.

FAQs

How to use "decisive question" in a sentence?

You can use "decisive question" to highlight a pivotal inquiry that influences outcomes. For example, "The decisive question is whether we can secure enough funding for the project."

What can I say instead of "decisive question"?

You can use alternatives like "key question", "critical question", or "pivotal question" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "decisive question" or "important question"?

Both "decisive question" and "important question" are correct, but "decisive question" emphasizes that the question directly influences a decision or outcome, while "important question" simply highlights significance. Choose the phrase that best fits the specific context.

What's the difference between "decisive question" and "defining question"?

"Decisive question" implies that answering it will lead to a decision or resolution. "Defining question" suggests the question helps to clarify or establish the nature of something. The nuance lies in whether the question leads to a choice or a deeper understanding.