functional question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "functional question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a question that serves a specific purpose or function, often in contexts like research, surveys, or discussions. Example: "In our meeting, we need to focus on a functional question that will guide our project development."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Corporate Governance 2.0 asks the functional question: What goals are the activists, governance rating agencies, boards, and everyday shareholders all trying to achieve?

Harvard Business Review

Every functional question has a creative answer in this 297-room hotel, so much so that you almost wonder whether you've fallen down Alice's rabbit hole.

Independent

In terms of the functional question whether she can list herself as a project manager, even if she doesn't use that title in the skill section of her resume, she can clearly emphasize as project management skills and when she gets into the face to face she can say look, I'm doing the project manager role.

Harvard Business Review

We know we must first pass the functional question before the guest will focus on the emotional question.

Forbes

The manuscript by Vaškovi ová et al., poses an interesting evolutionary and functional question, namely whether the mechanisms of cell invasive growth in plants and animals share homologous molecular components.

Biology Direct

Finally, the critically important functional question remains; how do maturation of WPBs and its control relate to the processing and release of VWF? Small GTPases of the Rab family play a key role in organelle function, and 2 Rabs, Rab27a (mutation of which leads to Griscelli syndrome type II) and Rab3D, have been found localized to WPBs.

Blood

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I ask a lot of technical questions and a lot of functional questions.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Residue analyses on stone artefacts have contributed to resolving functional questions in stone tool research.

Journal of Archaeological Science

This chapter discusses the potential of FRAP to address biochemical and functional questions about proteins in their native environment.

Methods in Enzymology

However, for over thirty years now, such a model has failed to resolve several structural and functional questions.

Biophysical Journal

Anthropology, maturing among the dominant ideologies of colonialism, reconstituted itself for a post-imperial age by asking functional questions: how do societies work, how are they organized, and what are their systems of meaning?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "functional question", ensure that the context clearly indicates the specific purpose or function that the question aims to address. This helps to avoid ambiguity and ensures the question's relevance.

Common error

Avoid using "functional question" as a generic substitute for any type of question. It should specifically refer to a question related to function, operation, or practical application, not just any inquiry.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "functional question" primarily functions as a noun phrase modifier, where the adjective "functional" describes the type of question being asked. It specifies that the question relates to the purpose, operation, or practical application of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "functional question" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a question relating to the purpose, operation, or practical application of something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is appropriate in various contexts such as science, news, academia, and business. While it's not exceedingly common, understanding its usage helps to specify the scope of an inquiry and focus discussions. Consider alternatives such as "practical inquiry" or "purposeful question" to provide variety in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

practical inquiry

Focuses on the practicality and applicability of the question.

purposeful question

Highlights the intention and aim behind the question.

operational query

Emphasizes the operational aspect and how the question relates to functionality.

applied question

Stresses the real-world application and relevance of the question.

task-oriented question

Suggests that the question is directed toward completing a specific task.

useful question

Highlights how helpful and valuable can be the question to get a suitable response.

instrumental question

The question serves as an instrument to achieve some goal.

actionable question

Focuses on the possibility to address the question and act based on its results.

effective inquiry

Highlights how helpful and effective can be the question to get results.

utilitarian question

The question is intended for practical, rather than aesthetic, reasons.

FAQs

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

You can use "functional question" to describe a question that serves a specific purpose. For example: "The core "functional question" we need to address is how this new feature will improve user experience."

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

Alternatives to "functional question" include "practical inquiry", "purposeful question", or "operational query", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "functional question" in a business context?

Yes, "functional question" is appropriate in a business context when discussing questions related to how something works, its purpose, or its practical application. For example, "The team needs to answer the "functional question" of whether the new software integrates seamlessly with existing systems."

What makes a question "functional"?

A "functional" question is one that directly addresses the purpose, operation, or practical use of something. It seeks to understand how something works or what its intended function is. This is different from questions about aesthetics or abstract concepts.