inconsequential questions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inconsequential questions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to questions that are trivial or not significant in the context of a discussion or situation. Example: "During the meeting, we spent too much time on inconsequential questions instead of focusing on the main issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Long wait, then when connection is made, the other end asks inconsequential questions with mounting toll, and finally the originating caller is disconnected before getting his call through.

The New Yorker

Long wait, then when connection is made, the other end asks inconsequential questions with mounting toll, and finally the originating caller is disconnected before getting his call through View Article By Larissa MacFarquhar By Rivka Galchen By David Remnick By Malcolm Gladwell.

The New Yorker

"Where did you get them?" Inconsequential questions I'd forget the answers to immediately after.

Vice

The work was silent, indolent clicking of "strongly agree" or "mostly disagree" on a slew of inconsequential questions about Netflix.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The central concern driving the many supernatural investigations of these luminaries was the not inconsequential question of whether life exists after death.

The New York Times - Books

And many complain that Mr. Feinberg's staff members can be overly technical in allowing minor problems on applications -- like failing to check off the box to one inconsequential question -- to derail the process for weeks.

The New York Times

But as usual, Jeeves was more interested in telling me about his totally inconsequential 'Question of the Day' than digging me out of my own, very serious, trivia quandary.

Vice

While my "struggle" had dealt with the inconsequential question of paint color, theirs often involved significant choices such as how to allocate financial resources for retirement, when to activate a long-term care insurance policy, and whether to seek out a residential care option.

Huffington Post

Office workers staring down existentially through the sneeze-guard glass, pondering the consequential inconsequential lunchtime question: Salad again?

The New York Times - Arts

If the latter inequality strikes one as morally inconsequential, the question arises whether inequality is in and of itself really objectionable.

SEP

It did not answer the question of whether or not he will ever win a championship but, instead, rendered that question largely inconsequential.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "inconsequential questions" to gently steer a conversation away from topics that are not central to the main discussion.

Common error

Avoid frequently labeling questions as "inconsequential" in formal or professional environments, as it might come across as dismissive or disrespectful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inconsequential questions" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. The adjective "inconsequential" describes the nature of the "questions", indicating that they are not important or significant. Ludwig examples show its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "inconsequential questions" is grammatically correct and used to describe questions of little importance or significance. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While technically sound, it's advisable to use the phrase judiciously in professional settings to avoid conveying dismissiveness. Related phrases like "trivial questions" or "unimportant questions" can serve as effective alternatives, depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trivial questions

This term directly replaces "inconsequential" with "trivial", emphasizing the lack of importance.

unimportant questions

This alternative uses a more direct synonym for "inconsequential", clearly stating the questions lack significance.

insignificant questions

Similar to "unimportant", this emphasizes the lack of significance or consequence of the questions.

minor questions

This term suggests that the questions are small in scope or impact.

petty questions

This implies the questions are trivial and potentially irritating or bothersome.

shallow questions

This describes the questions as lacking depth or serious consideration.

frivolous questions

This suggests the questions are not serious and possibly inappropriate for the context.

irrelevant questions

This indicates the questions are not related to the matter at hand.

pointless questions

This highlights that the questions serve no useful purpose.

meaningless questions

This suggests the questions lack substance or importance.

FAQs

How can I use "inconsequential questions" in a sentence?

You can use "inconsequential questions" to describe queries that are not important or relevant to the main topic, such as, "The meeting was delayed by a series of "inconsequential questions" from attendees."

What's a good alternative to "inconsequential questions"?

Alternatives include "trivial questions", "unimportant questions", or "insignificant questions", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "inconsequential questions" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, using "inconsequential questions" may sound dismissive in formal writing. Consider alternatives like "minor questions" or "less relevant questions" to maintain a more professional tone.

How does the meaning of "inconsequential questions" differ from "irrelevant questions"?

"Inconsequential questions" suggests that the questions are unimportant, while "irrelevant questions" implies that the questions are not related to the current topic at all. The former might be slightly related but not significant, whereas the latter is completely off-topic.