friendly question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "friendly question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that a question is posed in a kind or approachable manner. Example: "I hope you don't mind me asking, but I have a friendly question about your recent project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Them a friendly question from a journalist from Spain meant the Salmond attack eased off – for now.

Independent

It wasn't a friendly question, more an oh-yeah-says-you respowne to my own inquiries, warning me off.

The New York Times - Health

It was a friendly crowd and a friendly question, but WILLIAM H. GATES resisted the temptation to speak too frankly.

The New York Times

At a public forum on Tuesday night, Mr. Obama struggled to answer a friendly question from an activist about what the "overarching message" for Democrats should be.

The New York Times

As I was leaving, he asked me where I was going — the kind of friendly question he had scarcely asked in his self-involved state.

The New Yorker

He was also sharp-tongued with political opponents, once coldly dismissing a friendly question from then-President George W. Bush about his son serving in Iraq.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The screeners are almost always congressional staff and they have been instructed to only let through friendly questions and questioners.

HuffPost

I have (friendly) questions.

The New York Times

There were friendly questions from the floor.

The New York Times

Ask friendly questions about what people do during lunch.

The Guardian

At the press conference it appeared that the representatives were willing to answer only friendly questions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "friendly question", ensure the context aligns with the intention of conveying approachability and politeness. Choose this phrase when you want to emphasize the positive and non-confrontational nature of an inquiry.

Common error

Avoid using "friendly question" in situations where a more direct or probing question is necessary. Overusing this phrase can make your communication seem disingenuous or avoidant, especially in sensitive or critical discussions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "friendly question" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "friendly" modifies the noun "question". It typically serves to characterize the nature of an inquiry, indicating that it is intended to be approachable and non-threatening, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "friendly question" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that characterizes an inquiry as approachable and non-threatening. According to Ludwig, it is versatile across various contexts, from news and media to academia, and serves the communicative purpose of establishing rapport and encouraging openness. When writing, remember that "friendly question" should be used to show kindness and politeness in the subject/context. Keep in mind it could also be misinterpreting for a more direct question when needed. Alternatives like "polite question" or "amiable inquiry" can be used to add nuance. The phrase has a neutral register which means it can be used in formal/informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amiable inquiry

Replaces "friendly" with "amiable", indicating a similarly pleasant and agreeable nature of the question.

polite question

Focuses on the politeness aspect of the question, suitable when emphasizing courtesy.

approachable question

Highlights the accessibility and ease with which someone can answer the question.

gentle inquiry

Emphasizes the mild and non-intrusive nature of the question.

cordial question

Stresses the warm and sincere tone of the question.

good-natured question

Indicates that the question is asked in a positive and cheerful manner.

easy question

Suggests the question is simple and straightforward to answer.

non-threatening question

Implies the question is unlikely to cause discomfort or alarm.

casual question

Highlights the informal and relaxed nature of the question.

open question

Focuses on the question's design to invite broad and expansive answers without leading.

FAQs

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

You can use "friendly question" to describe an inquiry posed in a kind and approachable manner. For example: "I wanted to start with a "friendly question" to ease the tension."

What can I say instead of "friendly question"?

You can use alternatives like "polite question", "amiable inquiry", or "casual question" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "friendly question" or "amicable question"?

Both ""friendly question"" and "amicable question" are grammatically correct, but ""friendly question"" is more commonly used to describe a question asked in a kind and approachable way.

What's the difference between "friendly question" and "loaded question"?

A ""friendly question"" is asked with good intentions and aims to be non-confrontational, while a "loaded question" contains an assumption and is designed to trap the respondent into admitting something they might not otherwise.