operating question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "operating question" is not commonly used in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you are discussing a question that is central to a process or operation, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "The operating question for our research is how to improve efficiency in the production line."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

What are your Operating Principle and Operating Questions?

Huffington Post

For example, despite the existence of the non-additive genetic variance required for compatibility models to operate, questions must remain about the significance of mate choice based on compatibility in driving trait evolution, at least in the context of sexually dimorphic morphologies, such as body and pronotum size.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Amongst the operating variables in question, temperature had the strongest influence on both the heating-up and WAO stages, while H2O2 concentration strongly affected the former and reaction time the latter.

Waste Management

"You need to always be operating from the question of, 'Would you recommend this brand to a friend?' " Dunn said service companies are most dependent on customer contact experiences to manage their brands, since it’s mostly people rather than products driving the consumers' satisfaction.

Forbes

Reuters reports that Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, ducked questions about the controversy in an appearance at Harvard Business School.

The New York Times

But it ended in October 2014 with GTAT filing for bankruptcy, hundreds of people put out of work, and GTAT's chief executive and chief operating officer facing questions about insider dealing after they sold millions of dollars worth of GTAT stock before Apple's iPhone announcement in September.

The Guardian - Tech

We consider gendering processes operating through tools questions themselves and we also examine the quantification and legitimation processes used in establishing gender difference and the implications these have for women.

International Journal of Drug Policy

"They (the Taliban) have the momentum, their strategies and tactics are working, and ours are not.... it's not a question of where they are operating, it's more a question of where they are not".

Huffington Post

But the fact that she is not slated for operating responsibility leaves the question of management succession up in the air.

The New York Times

But industry analysts question whether operating such a carrier, which concentrates on the East Coast, is a viable strategy in the face of competition from aggressive low-fare airlines like Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways.

The New York Times

But this does not necessarily undermine the validity of the bank's view that the impulses pushing up inflation will prove short-lived, whereas the effect of spare capacity will be more enduring.Just how far below its potential output the economy is operating is a vexed question.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a question about a process or function, consider using clearer alternatives like "key operational question" or "fundamental question about functionality" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "operating question" when a more specific term, such as "operational question" or "functional question", better reflects the question's focus and context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "operating question", while grammatically sound, serves as a noun phrase that attempts to identify a query central to a functional process. Ludwig AI flags the expression as uncommon. Using the term is not recommended.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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News & Media

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "operating question" is grammatically correct but lacks established usage in standard English. Ludwig AI points out that the phrase isn't common, leading to potential misinterpretations. When aiming for clarity, it's advisable to opt for alternatives like "key operational question" or "fundamental question about functionality". These options provide more specific and universally understood descriptions. While "operating question" isn't inherently wrong, its ambiguity makes it a less effective choice for precise communication in formal, professional, or even neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

key operational question

Replaces "operating" with "operational", emphasizing the practical application or function of the question.

central question regarding operations

Specifies the question's importance to operations, adding clarity by using "regarding" to link the question to the context.

fundamental question about functionality

Focuses on the basic aspects of how something works, substituting "operating" with "functionality".

primary question for operation

Highlights that the question is of the utmost importance regarding the operation in question.

main question concerning operation

Emphasizes the question's relation to a specific operation, employing "concerning" for connection.

critical question for process

Focuses on a specific process instead of "operation", changing the noun.

essential question about functioning

Shifts the emphasis to "functioning", offering a slightly different angle on how something works.

important question for management

Frames the question within a management context, changing the scope.

leading question on operations

Highlights that the question is important in the operation. This changes the meaning from a question about operating, to the role it plays in operations.

pressing question about how it operates

Emphasizes the urgency or importance of the question and how something operates.

FAQs

What does "operating question" mean?

While not a standard phrase, "operating question" could refer to a central inquiry related to how something functions or runs. For clearer communication, consider using alternatives like "key operational question".

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

Although grammatically correct, the phrase might sound awkward. Instead of "The operating question is whether the system is efficient", try "The key "operational question" is whether the system is efficient".

Which is correct, "operating question" or "operational question"?

"Operational question" is generally preferred over "operating question" because it directly relates to how something is put into action or works in practice.

What are some alternatives to "operating question"?

Consider using phrases like "functional question", "key "operational question"", or "central question regarding operations" for greater clarity and impact.