litany of questions

USAGE SUMMARY

"litany of questions" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a list or series of questions that could be asked of someone. For example: "The interviewer fired off a litany of questions, making it difficult for the applicant to keep up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Merely going through a litany of questions is not real talk.

The New York Times

"What happened to Gaia?" He ended his talk with a litany of questions.

The New York Times - Science

This was the first time we used one in Westbury, and it presents a litany of questions".

The New York Times

An editorial in the mass-circulation Asahi Shimbun could merely muster a litany of questions: "What about the emergency systems?

The New York Times

"He had a litany of questions that he would put everyone through," one Andrew recently said of the other, in an interview at their Roosevelt Island apartment.

The New York Times

Judge Pauley went through a litany of questions intended to ensure that Mr. González understood his rights and what it meant to plead guilty.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

There is a litany of unanswered questions as to how Tonbridge could have happened without anyone raising the alarm before it was too late.

The Guardian

Over tea at a small cafe in the pagoda's shaded compound, Khanh, 29, said he was often asked by Western tourists to answer a predictable litany of philosophical questions: What is happiness?

The New York Times - Travel

He began by reciting some verses from the Koran and then, as his most senior aides looked on with deadpan expressions, he spoke obscurely about "problems of identity and morality in Europe," concluding with a litany of rhetorical questions: "What are the root causes of our problems?

The New Yorker

And with Wagner in everyone's eyes and ears this year, a litany of vexing questions beckons.

BBC

Lacy, one of the defense lawyer in the case, says the end of the appeal leaves a litany of unanswered questions.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "litany of questions" when you want to emphasize the extensive and possibly overwhelming nature of the questions being asked. It suggests a long and often tedious series.

Common error

Avoid using "litany of questions" when a simple "series of questions" would suffice. The phrase carries a negative connotation of being excessive or burdensome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "litany of questions" functions as a noun phrase. Ludwig shows it describes a long series of questions, often implying the questions are tedious or overwhelming.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "litany of questions" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a long and often tedious series of questions. According to Ludwig, it's frequently used in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While generally neutral in register, it often carries a negative connotation of being overwhelming or burdensome. When writing, remember to use this phrase to emphasize the extensive nature of the questioning and to consider alternative phrases like "series of questions" or "range of questions" for more neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plethora of questions

Substitutes "litany" with "plethora", highlighting a large abundance of questions.

range of questions

Changes "litany" to "range", indicating a variety but not necessarily a large number.

chain of questions

Replaces "litany" with "chain", suggesting a connected series of questions.

raft of questions

Uses "raft" instead of "litany", implying a large quantity of questions.

slate of questions

Substitutes "litany" with "slate", implying a list of questions prepared or presented.

catalogue of questions

Substitutes "litany" with "catalogue", suggesting a comprehensive list of questions.

listing of questions

Uses "listing" instead of "litany", emphasizing a straightforward enumeration of questions.

round of questions

Uses "round" instead of "litany", implying a series of questions asked in a specific order or context.

checklist of questions

Replaces "litany" with "checklist", suggesting a list used for verification or confirmation.

set of questions

Changes "litany" to "set", referring to a defined collection of questions.

FAQs

How can I use "litany of questions" in a sentence?

You can use "litany of questions" to describe a long and often tedious series of questions. For example, "The suspect faced a "litany of questions" from the detectives".

What's a good alternative to "litany of questions"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "range of questions", "series of questions", or "plethora of questions" to convey a similar meaning.

Does "litany of questions" have a negative connotation?

Yes, "litany of questions" often implies that the questions are excessive, tedious, or overwhelming. It's not always a neutral term.

Is there a difference between "litany of questions" and "list of questions"?

While both refer to multiple questions, "litany of questions" suggests a more extensive and possibly overwhelming series, whereas "list of questions" is more neutral and simply indicates an enumeration of questions.