follow up question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "follow up question" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a question that is asked after a previous question in order to get more information. For example, "The interviewer asked me if I had any skills in sales, so I followed up with a question asking if they were looking for someone to handle customer service as well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But then there would be a pause and a follow up question.

The Guardian

Those with acute hearing recognize in that a polite follow up question.

The New York Times - Books

He deflects the follow up question of whether he has ruled out running in 2016.

BBC

There's no follow up question.

Vice

Erik: I have a follow up question!

Human Reproduction

Basically, be ready with a follow up question.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Then I asked a follow-up question.

The New York Times

This is a follow-up question.

The New Yorker

There was no follow-up question; the conference ended.

The New York Times - Sports

I raised my hand to ask a follow-up question.

The Guardian - Opinion

A reporter's dumb follow-up question prompted a girlish giggle.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "follow up question" to smoothly transition to related inquiries during conversations or interviews. This helps maintain a logical flow and explore topics more thoroughly.

Common error

Avoid using "follow up question" when introducing a rhetorical question. A rhetorical question doesn't seek an answer, while a "follow up question" aims to gather more information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "follow up question" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to describe a question asked after an initial question to gain more information or clarification. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's used to continue a line of inquiry. The Ludwig AI confirm that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

34%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "follow up question" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a question asked after an initial one. Ludwig's analysis shows it's used to gather more information, seek clarification, or explore related aspects of a topic across various contexts, from news and media to scientific research. While alternatives like "additional inquiry" or "subsequent question" exist, "follow up question" remains a versatile and widely understood choice. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, making it a reliable option for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

further question

A simple and direct synonym for "follow up question", indicating an additional query.

another question is

A very direct way of introducing a subsequent question.

clarifying question

This alternative specifies that the purpose of the question is to seek clarification.

secondary question

This alternative describes the question as coming after the initial one.

additional inquiry

This alternative uses more formal vocabulary to describe a request for more information.

subsequent inquiry

Similar to "additional inquiry" but perhaps even more formal.

probing question

This alternative implies a deeper and more investigative follow up.

building on that, ...?

This alternative shifts the focus to a conversational start, asking a question based on previous statement.

to expand on that, ...?

Similar to "building on that", this expresses intent to elaborate through questioning.

in addition to that, ...?

This alternative opens a conversational path towards a new, though related, question.

FAQs

How to use "follow up question" in a sentence?

You can use "follow up question" to indicate a question that comes after an initial question, aiming to gather more information or clarification. For example: "After the presentation, I had a "follow up question" about the budget allocation."

What's the difference between a "follow up question" and a clarifying question?

A "follow up question" is any question asked after an initial one, while a "clarifying question" specifically aims to make something clearer or resolve confusion.

Are there more formal ways to say "follow up question"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "additional inquiry" or "subsequent question", which may be more appropriate in professional or academic settings.

When is it appropriate to ask a "follow up question"?

It's appropriate to ask a "follow up question" when you need more details, want to clarify a point, or want to explore a related aspect of the original topic. Make sure your "follow up question" is relevant to the current discussion.