paramount question

USAGE SUMMARY

'paramount question' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to a question of great importance that needs to be answered. For example, "What is the paramount question we must address in order to solve this problem?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The paramount question was "How?" Did he have an accomplice?

The New Yorker

"That's the central question in life and the paramount question in science fiction.

The Guardian - Film

Prof. Farber, the paramount question still remains: "Can we adapt in time?" See this piece in California magazine.

University of California, Berkeley

So the paramount question is, how do we save the human race from this fact of life?

University of California, Berkeley

The identification of ubiquitin-independent mechanisms for proteasomal degradation also poses the paramount question of the multiplicity of catabolic pathways targeting each protein substrate.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on Cancer

The paramount question to be answered is what future annual income should be assigned to a child with no work history?

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The paramount questions were "How do you perceive your work situation today?" and "How do you perceive changes in your work situation to affect you and your work?" Main questions were followed by probe questions such as "Can you give an example of this?", "What do you think caused this?" and so on to stimulate rich descriptions.

BMC Health Services Research

The Indonesian government assured aid workers that their safety was paramount, and questioned the reliability of Denmark's intelligence.

The Guardian

Although of paramount importance, this question could not be answered in our study.

British Journal of Cancer

It is paramount to ask questions and be clear on the parameters of your photography package.

HuffPost

"Birnam Wood" looks back to a time in my life when this question was paramount for me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "paramount question", ensure the context clearly establishes the high level of importance and the need for resolution. It sets the stage for a focused discussion or analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "paramount question" when a simpler, less emphatic phrasing would suffice. Overusing it can diminish its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "paramount question" functions as a noun phrase that identifies the most important or critical question within a particular context. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

32%

News & Media

41%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "paramount question" is a phrase used to denote the most important question within a given context. It is considered grammatically correct and is frequently used in academic, news, and scientific domains. As per Ludwig's analysis, while there are numerous semantically similar alternatives such as "crucial question" or "pivotal question", "paramount question" emphasizes a supreme level of importance. It's crucial to reserve its use for situations where the inquiry truly holds primary significance to avoid diluting its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pivotal question

Replaces "paramount" with "pivotal", focusing on the turning-point nature of the question.

crucial question

Substitutes "paramount" with "crucial", highlighting the critical importance of the question.

foremost question

Uses "foremost" instead of "paramount", indicating that the question is the most important or prominent.

chief question

Replaces "paramount" with "chief", emphasizing the leading or principal nature of the question.

central question

Substitutes "paramount" with "central", highlighting that the question is the core or focus of attention.

key question

Replaces "paramount" with "key", focusing on the essential or fundamental nature of the question.

essential question

Uses "essential" instead of "paramount", indicating that the question is indispensable or necessary.

primary question

Substitutes "paramount" with "primary", highlighting the fundamental or initial nature of the question.

overriding question

Replaces "paramount" with "overriding", focusing on the dominant or prevailing nature of the question.

most important question

Replaces "paramount" with the explicit phrase "most important", making the emphasis direct.

FAQs

How to use "paramount question" in a sentence?

Use "paramount question" to highlight the most important question that needs to be addressed in a given situation. For example, "The "paramount question" is whether we can adapt in time."

What can I say instead of "paramount question"?

You can use alternatives like "pivotal question", "crucial question", or "most important question" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "paramount question" or "important question"?

"Paramount question" emphasizes a higher degree of importance than "important question". Use ""paramount question"" when you want to highlight the single most critical issue.

What's the difference between "paramount question" and "key question"?

While both indicate importance, ""paramount question"" suggests an issue of supreme importance, whereas "key question" simply indicates a significant or essential inquiry.