early question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "early question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a question that was posed at an earlier time in a discussion or conversation. Example: "During our meeting, I raised an early question about the project's timeline that still needs to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"This is an early question of judgment for Theresa May.

The Guardian

Now that Coca-Cola looks like being summoned to a higher court, one early question will be whether it kept its word.

The Economist

After conceding an early try to James Wynne, which raised a worrying early question about their defence, England had to survive several more bouts of sustained pressure.

The Guardian - Sport

And the early question of whether or not faith could increase or decrease as a result of good or bad deeds led to many different standpoints.

The Guardian - Opinion

With Coutts and Butterworth on board, no one doubted that Alinghi's crew work would be solid, but the design team was an early question mark.

The New York Times - Sports

"An early question in every Q. & A. is 'you've told us everything that's wrong but not what we can do about it,' " she said later.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

His early questions concerned protocol.

The New York Times

Early questions are rudimentary: What was the cause of death?

The New York Times

Early Questions on Race Michelle Robinson grew up in the black half of a divided Chicago.

The New York Times

The early questions in my grand jury meeting were just the usual, very routine stuff.

The New Yorker

Surprisingly, together, we've sort of answered all my early questions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "early question", ensure it's clear that the question pertains to the initial stages of a discussion, investigation, or process. Providing context will help the reader understand its significance.

Common error

Avoid using "early question" as a generic substitute for any question. Ensure it truly relates to the initial stages of a topic. Otherwise, a more specific term like "basic question" or "initial inquiry" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early question" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "early" modifies the noun "question". It designates a question posed at or near the commencement of a discussion, investigation, or process. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "early question" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that denotes a question raised at the beginning of a discussion, investigation, or process. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for use in written English. While it appears most frequently in News & Media contexts, it's also present in Science and Formal & Business settings. When using this phrase, ensure that the question genuinely pertains to the initial stages of the topic at hand. Alternatives like ""initial inquiry"" or ""preliminary question"" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial inquiry

This focuses on the aspect of beginning an investigation or discussion with a question.

preliminary question

Highlights the aspect of being an introductory or preparatory question.

first question

Emphasizes the chronological order of the question in a sequence.

opening question

Focuses on the question that initiates a discussion or conversation.

introductory question

Highlights the question's role in introducing a topic.

starting point

Replaces the question with the concept of initiating an investigation or discussion.

foundational inquiry

Emphasizes that the question is the base for the subject.

basic question

Simple/core question that is a good departure point.

initial concern

Emphasizes the element of worry or interest.

primary issue

Underlines the fundamental aspect of the question as a key matter.

FAQs

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

You can use "early question" to refer to a question that arises at the beginning of a discussion or investigation. For example: "An "early question" in the investigation was the victim's identity".

What's a good alternative to "early question"?

Alternatives include "initial inquiry", "preliminary question", or "first question", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "early question"?

While grammatically correct, "early question" might be inappropriate if the question isn't genuinely related to the initial stages of a discussion. In such cases, a more general term like "basic question" might be more accurate.

What's the difference between "early question" and "initial question"?

While similar, ""early question"" emphasizes the timing of the question within a process, whereas "initial question" simply highlights that it's the starting point of an inquiry.