monumental question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "monumental question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a question of great significance or importance, often in a philosophical or critical context. Example: "The monumental question of our time is whether humanity can effectively combat climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The fourth plinth in a corner of Trafalgar Square has posed a monumental question ever since it was built in 1841.

The Guardian - Opinion

That monumental question has been percolating here for about 15 years, but only lately has the extraordinary prospect that this old, dense city will suddenly gain a 30-acre swath of green land smack in its center begun to seem dauntingly, thrillingly real.

The New York Times

Consider what is on their plate, in this time period, in addition to deciding the monumental question of war: the entire federal budget.

Huffington Post

To think through the monumental question of whether America should enter the war, rather than putting out photos of himself and his team with their sleeves rolled up pulling all-nighters, FDR announced that he would instead be taking a 10-day vacation, sailing around the Caribbean on a navy ship.

Huffington Post

It is a monumental question, one that itself can have profound consequences including whether the Speaker of the House, who is constitutionally also the gatekeeper of presidential Impeachment, truly believes that the President holds values that may make him unfit as the leader of a free and democratic nation.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

From the moment the two towers collapsed on Sept. 11, engineers and other experts have been struggling to answer the monumental questions of exactly why and how the buildings, designed to sustain a jet impact, completely collapsed.

The New York Times

Of course, Reich is far from the first modern composer to tackle the monumental questions of the day: Hindemith in Neues vom Tage, a satire of 1920s Weimar life, and Kurt Weill in Die Bürgschaft, both tackled social issues.

The Guardian - Music

The debate that began in the Senate last week is centered not on the fundamental and monumental questions of whether and why the United States should go to war with Iraq, but rather on the mechanics of how best to wordsmith the president's use-of-force resolution in order to give him virtually unchecked authority to commit the nation's military to an unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation.

The New York Times

How can one case answer these two monumental questions?

Huffington Post

These are massive questions with monumental consequences, but they're not the kind to capture the public imagination, at least not in Britain.

The Guardian - Books

The SNP is forecast to take Scotland on 7 May in a monumental shift that will question whether the word "United" is left with any meaningful place alongside "Kingdom".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "monumental question" when you want to emphasize the significant impact and broad implications of the question being addressed. It's most effective when the question genuinely represents a pivotal challenge or opportunity.

Common error

Avoid using "monumental question" for routine inquiries or minor issues. Reserve it for situations where the question truly has far-reaching consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "monumental question" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "monumental" modifies the noun "question". It emphasizes the immense importance and significance of the question being posed. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a valid and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "monumental question" serves to emphasize the profound significance of an inquiry. Grammatically correct and verified by Ludwig AI, it is best employed when the question at hand genuinely carries substantial weight and far-reaching implications. While sources predominantly stem from news and media contexts, the phrase's neutral-to-formal register makes it suitable for professional and academic settings as well, provided the context warrants its use. Remember to reserve "monumental question" for genuinely significant inquiries, avoiding overuse in trivial contexts. Alternatives like "significant question" or "profound question" offer nuanced options for expressing importance with varying degrees of emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant question

Replaces "monumental" with a more common synonym, reducing the emphasis on scale but retaining the importance of the question.

important question

A more general alternative, focusing on the relevance of the question.

critical question

Highlights the urgency and decisiveness associated with the question.

fundamental question

Emphasizes the foundational nature of the question.

profound question

Focuses on the depth and insight the question requires.

substantial question

Highlights the considerable importance and impact of the question.

burning question

Suggests a question of immediate and pressing concern.

major issue

Shifts from a question to a problem or point of contention, maintaining the sense of significance.

pivotal question

Indicates that the question is a turning point or decisive factor.

pressing issue

Focuses on the urgency and need for immediate attention to the issue.

FAQs

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

Use "monumental question" to describe an inquiry that has significant and lasting implications. For example, "The environmental crisis poses a "monumental question" about the future of our planet".

What can I say instead of "monumental question"?

You can use alternatives like "significant question", "important question", or "profound question" depending on the specific context.

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

It is appropriate when discussing a question that carries immense weight, impact, or significance. This term highlights the far-reaching implications and potential consequences of the issue being examined.

How does "monumental question" differ from "important question"?

"Monumental question" suggests a greater scale and impact compared to "important question". While both denote significance, "monumental" emphasizes the lasting and transformative nature of the inquiry.