great question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "great question" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to acknowledge and commend someone for asking a thoughtful or insightful question. Example: "Thank you for your inquiry about our new policy; that's a great question that many people are curious about."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

DEXTER FILKINS: Great question.

The New Yorker

HENDRIK HERTZBERG: Great question.

The New Yorker

Great question though.

The New Yorker

JEFFREY TOOBIN: Great question.

The New Yorker

HAMPTON SIDES: Great question.

The New Yorker

A great question".

The New Yorker

JUDITH THURMAN: Great question.

The New Yorker

MALCOLM GLADWELL: Great question.

The New Yorker

What a great question!

The New York Times - Science

WP: A great question, great question.

Princeton University

– Ray, Boulder Great question, Ray.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "great question" to genuinely acknowledge a thoughtful or insightful query, creating a positive interaction with the questioner.

Common error

Avoid using "great question" as a filler response. Ensure your acknowledgment is genuine and followed by a relevant answer or discussion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "great question" functions as an acknowledgment and positive reinforcement of the question posed. Ludwig AI shows this is commonly used to express appreciation for the insightfulness or relevance of a query.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

22%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "great question" is a very common and grammatically correct way to acknowledge a thoughtful query, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most frequently used in news, media, and academic contexts. While generally neutral in register, it may be slightly informal for strictly academic or highly formal professional settings, where alternatives like "excellent question" might be more appropriate. When using the phrase, it's important to be genuine and avoid overuse, ensuring that it leads to a meaningful response or discussion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's a very insightful question

Emphasizes the depth of understanding required to formulate the question.

that's a thoughtful question

Highlights the consideration and care put into formulating the question.

good question

A more concise and general acknowledgement of the question's merit.

an interesting question

Indicates that the question raises intriguing or novel points.

that's an excellent point

Replaces "question" with "point", indicating agreement with a statement rather than a query.

that's a pertinent question

Highlights the relevance and timeliness of the question.

that's the key question

Highlights the question's importance to the overall topic.

I'm glad you asked that

Expresses appreciation for the question being raised, implying it's important but possibly overlooked.

that's precisely what I was wondering

Indicates the question aligns with the speaker's own curiosity.

that's an important consideration

Shifts focus from the question itself to the underlying issue it raises.

FAQs

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

You can use "great question" to acknowledge a well-thought-out or insightful query, such as: "That's a great question, and I'm happy to elaborate on the details".

What are some alternatives to saying "great question"?

You can use alternatives like "excellent question", "insightful question", or "good point" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "great question"?

It's appropriate to use "great question" when you genuinely appreciate the thoughtfulness or relevance of the question being asked. Avoid using it as a default response without engaging with the question's content.

Is "great question" too informal for professional communication?

While "great question" is generally acceptable, in highly formal settings, consider using alternatives such as "excellent question" or "that's an important point" to maintain a professional tone.