key questions

USAGE SUMMARY

"key questions" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to important or fundamental questions that need to be answered or considered. For example, "We need to answer these key questions before making a decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those are key questions.

The New York Times

Key Questions: What is "failure"?

The New York Times

Among the key questions are:.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Yet key questions remain.

Nature

What are "key questions"?

The Washington Post

"Bhutto Murder: Key Questions".

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Always ask the key questions.

The Guardian - Sport

But many key questions remain unanswered.

The New York Times - Books

Zoom in with a few key questions.

Independent

We Answer Three Key Questions.

The New York Times

Two key questions demand answers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "key questions", ensure they genuinely represent the most crucial inquiries within the context. Prioritize clarity and relevance to maintain focus.

Common error

Avoid using "key questions" merely as introductory filler. Ensure that the questions you label as "key" truly warrant that designation and drive meaningful discussion or analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "key questions" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It highlights a set of important inquiries or issues that need to be addressed. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

27%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "key questions" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase designed to spotlight essential inquiries. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its adaptability across diverse registers, particularly in news, scientific, and academic domains, underscores its versatile function. Alternatives like "essential questions" and "pivotal questions" can offer nuanced expressions, depending on the specific context. When using "key questions", prioritize clarity to prevent overuse and ensure they are truly central to the discourse. From a linguistic standpoint, the phrase functions as a noun phrase, its usage is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, and it frequently appears in News & Media and Science. The phrase is a valuable tool for focusing attention on critical issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essential questions

This alternative emphasizes the indispensable nature of the questions.

pivotal questions

This alternative highlights the critical or decisive importance of the questions.

fundamental questions

This alternative underscores the foundational nature of the questions.

core questions

This alternative focuses on the central or most important questions.

critical questions

This alternative emphasizes the urgent or crucial nature of the questions.

central questions

This alternative highlights questions that are of primary importance.

important questions

This alternative is a more general way to refer to questions of significance.

main questions

This alternative denotes the principal questions to be addressed.

leading questions

This alternative refers to questions that guide or direct the response.

significant questions

This alternative underscores the notable or consequential aspect of the questions.

FAQs

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

You can use "key questions" to introduce a set of important inquiries. For example, "These are the "essential questions" we need to address before proceeding." Or, "Several "fundamental questions" remain unanswered regarding this issue."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "key questions"?

Alternatives include "essential questions", "pivotal questions", "fundamental questions", or "core questions". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "key questions" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a clear and direct way to highlight important inquiries in academic, professional, and news contexts. However, be sure that the questions are truly essential to the topic.

What's the difference between "key questions" and "main questions"?

While both phrases refer to important inquiries, "key questions" often implies a set of foundational or decisive inquiries, while "main questions" might simply denote the primary questions under consideration. "Key questions" suggests more criticality.