forward the question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forward the question" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to direct a question to someone else for their input or response. Example: "I will forward the question to the team for their feedback." Alternative expressions include "pass on the question" and "send the question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

If a commander and a military prosecutor disagree about whether a case, once started, should go forward, the question gets sent up to the secretaries of the services.

The New Yorker

Going Forward The question is whether the neighborhood will retain its old-fashioned look, and as Ms. Uzzo put it, that is "a tough call".

The New York Times

But going forward, the question for Mr. Romney is whether a decision to invest time and money in Iowa could change minds and produce a different result in the caucuses.

The New York Times

Moving forward, the question beyond why Anthony tuned out D'Antoni is whether he has enough character to walk that behavioral tightrope for Woodson in the many fragile moments to come when the Knicks linger between success and circus.

The New York Times - Sports

When New Jersey Democratic leaders called the Torricelli campaign this afternoon to ask whether he would consider turning over his campaign funds to Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Torricelli's aides said they did not dare even forward the question to him.

The New York Times

Moving forward, the question is which path will gain favor: a more populist attack on federal courts or a more narrowly focused and nuanced pushed for what social conservatives view as protections for religious liberty.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Hence, we put forward the following question: Question 4.2 Is Aut ( U 4 ( 2 ) ) exactly fourfold OD-characterizable?

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

I forwarded the question to Trillin, who kindly replied: The two words sound less alike in Cajun Louisiana, where a lot of people accent the first syllable of boudin.

The New Yorker

I emailed him, and he forwarded the question to Glenn Jones, who founded the band.

TechCrunch

"How he fits for us going forward is the question," Cashman said.

The New York Times

Senator Sam Brownback, Republican of Kansas, said experiments should not go forward until the question of when life begins had been answered.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Distinguish between "forward the question" (sending it elsewhere) and "put forward the question" (proposing it). The latter requires the word "put" to function correctly as a phrasal verb.

Common error

Avoid using "forward the question" without a comma if you are actually intending to use a temporal transition. Writers often mean "Moving forward, the question is..." but omit the comma, which can momentarily confuse the reader into thinking the question is being physically sent somewhere.

Linguistic Context

In its primary grammatical function, "forward the question" acts as a transitive verb phrase meaning to transmit or redirect an inquiry to another party. As noted in Ludwig, it often appears within larger phrasal constructions such as "put forward the question" (to propose) or as a temporal transition like "going forward, the question is". Ludwig AI confirms that the specific verb-object arrangement is standard English for logistical redirection.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "forward the question" is a versatile and correct English phrase that appears across a wide spectrum of authoritative sources. Based on data from Ludwig, it is most frequently used in two ways: logistically, to mean sending an inquiry to another recipient (common in business and news), and as part of the phrasal verb "put forward the question", which is a staple in scientific and academic writing for proposing hypotheses. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is highly effective for maintaining clear communication in professional environments. When using it, writers should pay close attention to prepositions and punctuation—specifically using "to" for recipients and commas when using "forward" as a temporal transition—to ensure maximum clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

redirect the inquiry

More formal and specific to administrative tasks.

relay the question

Suggests acting as a messenger between two parties.

pass along the question

Slightly more informal and conversational.

direct the question

Implies pointing the question toward a specific authority.

submit the query

Common in technical or support ticket contexts.

put forward the question

Changes the meaning from sending a question to proposing one.

refer the matter

Uses more formal legalistic or bureaucratic language.

pose the question

Focuses on the act of asking rather than the act of sending.

raise the question

Used when a situation causes a question to emerge naturally.

bring up the question

Used when introducing a topic in a meeting or discussion.

FAQs

How do I use "forward the question" in an email?

You can use it when delegating an inquiry, for example: "I will "forward the question" to our technical lead for a more detailed response."

Is "put forward the question" better than "forward the question"?

It depends on your goal. Use "put forward the question" if you are introducing a new idea or problem, and use "forward the question" if you are simply sending an existing message to someone else.

What is a more formal way to say "forward the question"?

In professional or legal contexts, you might prefer to "direct the question" or "refer the inquiry" to the appropriate party.

Can I say "forwarding the question" instead?

Yes, if the action is ongoing. For example: "We are currently "forwarding the question" to all relevant stakeholders."