optional comments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "optional comments" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to note that certain comments are optional; for example, "Please include your name and email address, with optional comments about your experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The survey includes five locally-chosen questions, asks about general satisfaction, and provides an optional comments box.

University of Chicago

Jmol SMILES is a superset of OpenSMILES, allowing a freer format, with optional comments and whitespace, optional "processing directives" that specify the meaning of certain aspects of SMILES processing such as aromaticity, a more complete treatment of stereochemistry, and several other minor additions.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Our study did not aim to determine participant contentment with Naturopathic care over other therapies, but we did receive systematic feedback in the form of optional comments on the forms that the participants in the Naturopathic care group increased their interest in seeking CAM care and developed an increased appreciation for Naturopathic care.

Plosone

The opportunity to make optional comments was provided.

Health Research Policy and Systems

We coded optional comments based on identified themes.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Of the 25 optional comments submitted on the survey, two alluded to this (see Results).

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In addition, an optional comment is allowed after the mapping.

Columbia University

The first field contains the keyword name, the second field contains the data type (b = boolean, i = integer, r = real, s = string), the fourth field contains the value (in double quotes if a string), and the seventh field contains an optional comment (also in double quotes).

Harvard University

Participants were required to answer all questions, and there was an optional comment section where additional information could be provided.

Functional Linguistics

You can then highlight any passage in the book, add an optional comment and share to Twitter and Facebook.

TechCrunch

The embeddable button for posting webpages to the Google+ news feed with an optional comment is going to struggle for installs unless Google can prove it drives page views.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When requesting "optional comments", clearly state the purpose and type of feedback you're seeking to encourage more useful and relevant responses.

Common error

Don't assume users understand what kind of "optional comments" are helpful. Provide specific prompts or examples to guide their feedback and improve the quality of responses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "optional comments" functions as a noun phrase, where "optional" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "comments". Ludwig indicates that this phrase is correctly and commonly used. It serves to identify a specific type of comment that is not mandatory but available for users to provide.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

Academia

20%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "optional comments" is a commonly used and grammatically sound noun phrase that invites additional feedback or information without requiring it. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely accepted and appears frequently in academic, scientific, and news-related contexts. When using "optional comments", it is best practice to provide clear guidance on the type of feedback desired to maximize the quality and relevance of responses. Consider alternatives like ""additional feedback"" or "supplementary remarks" for subtle variations in meaning. Remember to analyze any "optional comments" provided using qualitative methods to extract valuable insights.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

optional feedback

Replaces "comments" with the slightly more formal "feedback", but maintains the same core meaning.

optional annotations

Replaces "comments" with the more formal "annotations", but maintains the same core meaning.

additional feedback

Focuses on the feedback aspect, implying that it's extra information beyond the required input.

supplementary remarks

Emphasizes the extra and supporting nature of the comments.

voluntary notes

Highlights the willing participation in providing notes.

non-mandatory remarks

Uses more formal language to indicate that the remarks are not required.

suggested additions

Frames the comments as potential improvements or enhancements.

extra annotations

Highlights the annotative nature of the comments, suggesting they add detail.

unrequired input

Emphasizes the lack of obligation in providing the input.

supplemental information

Focuses on the informative aspect of the comments, indicating they provide additional details.

FAQs

How do I ask for "optional comments" effectively?

Clearly state that comments are not required but welcomed, and provide context or specific questions to guide the feedback. For example, "Your general satisfaction score is required, but please leave any "additional feedback" in the comments below."

What is an alternative to "optional comments"?

Consider using phrases like ""additional feedback"", "voluntary notes", or "suggested additions" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Are "optional comments" necessary in surveys?

While not mandatory, providing a space for "optional comments" can offer valuable qualitative data and insights that quantitative questions might miss. These comments can reveal nuances and unexpected perspectives.

How should I analyze data from "optional comments"?

Use qualitative analysis techniques to identify common themes and patterns in the "optional comments". Coding and thematic analysis can help extract meaningful insights from the textual data.