natural questions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "natural questions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to inquiries that arise organically or intuitively in a conversation or discussion. Example: "During the seminar, participants raised several natural questions about the topic that sparked further discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

In the Natural Questions, Seneca says that nature has given us mirrors so that we may know ourselves (ut homo ipse se nosset).

SEP

They are natural questions to ask, but not easy to answer.

The Guardian - Sport

"The great political issues of power and its abuses have always been natural questions for us," Mr. Silvers said.

The New York Times - Books

The natural questions, which as yet have no answers, Ms. Howell said, are these: Are the lobsters simply back to more normal numbers in Long Island Sound?

The New York Times

During the few minutes she was cracking eggs and whisking cheese and lemon juice for a pasta sauce, she anticipated and then seamlessly answered many natural questions -- why she chose linguine over another pasta and what to do if there's not enough sauce.

The New York Times - Food

The pluralistic line raises some natural questions.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

It was a natural question.

The New York Times - Magazine

The natural question is, why?

The New York Times

The natural question is what went wrong?

The New York Times - Sports

The natural question for the Goldbergs is: Why?

The New York Times

It was the most natural question to ask a traveller.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "natural questions" when you want to indicate that certain inquiries are an expected or logical part of a discussion or situation. It suggests the questions arise organically from the context.

Common error

Avoid using "natural questions" in extremely casual conversations where simpler alternatives like "common questions" or "typical questions" might sound more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "natural questions" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "natural" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "questions". It is used to describe inquiries that arise logically or organically within a given context. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its proper usage in various sentences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "natural questions" effectively conveys inquiries that logically arise from a given context. Ludwig AI analysis, including the numerous examples provided, confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriate usage across various domains, particularly in science and news media. While its register is generally neutral, avoid overusing it in extremely informal settings, as noted in the writing guidance. Remember to consider alternatives like "logical inquiries" or "expected questions" to fine-tune the specific meaning you wish to convey. According to Ludwig, the phrase is perfectly valid in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

logical inquiries

Replaces "natural" with "logical", emphasizing the reason-based aspect of the questions.

obvious questions

Substitutes "natural" with "obvious", suggesting the questions are easily anticipated.

expected questions

Replaces "natural" with "expected", highlighting that the questions are predictable.

intuitive questions

Changes "natural" to "intuitive", focusing on questions arising from instinct or feeling.

understandable questions

Swaps "natural" for "understandable", stressing that the questions are easily comprehended.

common questions

Replaces "natural" with "common", indicating the questions are frequently asked.

typical questions

Changes "natural" to "typical", suggesting the questions are representative or standard.

reasonable questions

Substitutes "natural" with "reasonable", emphasizing the questions' logical basis.

predictable inquiries

Replaces both words for semantically close words.

standard inquiries

Substitutes both words for semantically close words.

FAQs

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

You can use "natural questions" to refer to inquiries that logically arise from a situation. For example: "These are "natural questions" to ask when considering a career change".

What's a good substitute for "natural questions"?

Alternatives include "logical inquiries", "obvious questions", or "expected questions", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it okay to use "natural questions" in academic writing?

Yes, "natural questions" is suitable for academic writing when referring to inquiries that logically follow from the presented material. Its use suggests that these questions are inherent to the topic.

How does "natural questions" differ from "common questions"?

"Natural questions" suggests the inquiries arise from a specific context or situation, whereas "common questions" implies they are frequently asked regardless of context. The former is more context-dependent.