overarching question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overarching question" is correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to the main or central question that encompasses and guides the focus of a piece of writing or discussion. Example: In his research paper, the author poses the overarching question: "How can we effectively combat climate change while also promoting economic growth?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Perhaps the overarching question was just: Really?

The New York Times

That remains, after two days of testimony, the overarching question.

The Guardian

That means framing the campaign with one overarching question.

The Guardian

But whatever the outcome, this summit raises anew the overarching question dogging Bill Clinton, his would-be successors and the Congress.

The New York Times

The overarching question we asked was: how much of our sporting talent boils down to what we are born with.

BBC

The project, initially launched in 2011, aimed to answer one overarching question: Is life in the tropics is improving?

Science Magazine

The overarching question emerging from this exercise is whether political claims-making as reported in newspapers is a useful method once coding errors have been corrected.

Comparative Migration Studies

What I do feel comfortable doing, though, is addressing your larger, overarching question: How do I deal with a man who doesn't respect me or my body?

Huffington Post

Our overarching question guiding the review was "How effective are self-management support interventions in men with LTCs?".

BMJ Open

The overarching question still begging to be asked is, of course, where exactly could tortoises be used as island megaherbivores?

AoB PLANTS

LAGOS was built to provide answers to our overarching question about cross-scale interactions (CSIs) and their drivers (see [ 10] for a detailed description of CSIs).

GigaScience

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overarching question", ensure that all subsequent points and arguments directly relate back to and address this central question.

Common error

Avoid using "overarching question" when the subject matter is not well defined or when there isn't a clear, central inquiry. Ensure the question truly encompasses the main theme, preventing the writing from seeming unfocused or disjointed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overarching question" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to introduce the central inquiry or theme of a discussion, argument, or research. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage, indicating its role in framing the core issue. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its versatility across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "overarching question" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that serves to introduce the central theme or inquiry of a discourse. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. To use it effectively, ensure that it accurately represents the primary focus of your writing and that all subsequent points directly address this inquiry. While the phrase is generally appropriate for neutral to professional registers, remember to define the theme before starting the discussion. While "central question" or "main question" can be interchangeable, remember that "overarching question" suggests a broad scope with an all-encompassing nature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Central question

Focuses on the idea of a core, fundamental question.

Main question

Emphasizes the primary question being addressed.

Key question

Highlights the importance and significance of the question.

Fundamental question

Stresses the basic and foundational nature of the question.

Underlying question

Suggests a question that exists beneath the surface or is implied.

Primary concern

Shifts focus to the central concern or issue.

Overriding issue

Emphasizes the dominance and importance of the issue.

Pivotal inquiry

Highlights that the inquiry is critical and decisive.

Core problem

Focuses on the main problem or challenge to be solved.

Ultimate issue

Emphasizes that the issue is the final or most important one.

FAQs

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

You can use "overarching question" to introduce the main theme or inquiry of your work. For example, "The overarching question of this research is whether social media impacts political polarization."

What are some alternatives to "overarching question"?

Alternatives include "central question", "main question", or "key question", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to use "overarching question" or "main question"?

"Overarching question" implies a question that encompasses all other related questions, while "main question" simply refers to the primary question. The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the encompassing nature of the inquiry.

What makes a question "overarching"?

An overarching question is one that frames the entire scope of a discussion or research project. It's a broad question to which all subsequent analysis and findings should relate, unlike more specific, targeted questions.