peripheral question

USAGE SUMMARY

"peripheral question" is a correct and usable phrase in written English that can be used to refer to a question or query that is nonessential or tangential to the main discussion or topic.
For example: The speaker dismissed the audience member's peripheral question and continued the lecture.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

To be clear: The rebel flag wasn't a peripheral question for the South.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In addition to turning down smaller studies, it is insisting that the costs of large studies go way down — even if that means sacrificing data by, for example, not gathering lab results on peripheral questions researchers think are interesting.

The New York Times - Health

An improved suite of questions to appraise farmers' motivations might include value orientations, life satisfaction, and responses to various scenarios, all phrased to be locally appropriate, with a scoring system that uses the full range of potential scores and a minimum of follow up and peripheral questions.

Agricultural Systems

However, some more peripheral questions appear to be answered in the negative, for instance a drug that depletes CD4+ T cells is unlikely to be effective in established PsA.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

The peripheral in question dates from 1989, a third-party developed controller, a product of Mattel, compatible with the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Vice

Peripheral social questions stirred by the standoff abound.

The New York Times

Although there has been much debate about whether Machiavelli was truly a friend of princes and tyrants or of republics, and hence whether we should dismiss one or another facet of his writing as ancillary or peripheral, the questions seems irresolvable.

SEP

While the results of the three experiments all suggest that changes in the distribution of sustained attention across the visual field lead to consistent modulations in the magnitude of peripheral mislocalization, questions remain as to how these findings fit with current theories of how attention influences location perception.

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

If any of them had things to conceal, these probably concerned matters peripheral to the question of whether the brothers were guilty of the bombing.

The Guardian - Books

Yet markets repeatedly found reason to question peripheral economies' willingness to subordinate domestic policy to the demands of the system.

The Economist

From a functional perspective and with respect to the network core domains and network peripheral domains, a question naturally arises as to whether these two classes of domains exhibit distinct adaptivity level.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "peripheral question" to gently steer the conversation back to the core topic if a discussion veers into less relevant areas.

Common error

Avoid focusing excessively on what is truly a "peripheral question", as it can dilute the impact of your primary arguments and lose your audience's attention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "peripheral question" functions as a noun phrase, identifying a question that is not of primary importance. It serves to classify the question's relevance to the main topic under discussion, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "peripheral question" is used to describe a question that is related to a main topic but is not central to it. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While examples are limited, its usage appears in various contexts, including news, science, and formal communication. When writing, use "peripheral question" to identify and address tangential inquiries, maintaining focus on the primary subject matter. Alternative phrases like "minor issue" or "tangential inquiry" can be used for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

side issue

Emphasizes that the issue is to the side of the main discussion.

minor issue

Focuses on the relative importance of the issue.

non-essential inquiry

Highlights the lack of necessity of the inquiry.

secondary concern

Emphasizes the lower priority of the concern.

minor detail

Focuses on the level of importance of the detail.

tangential inquiry

Highlights the indirect relevance of the inquiry.

additional point

Implies the point is supplemental and not essential.

ancillary matter

Stresses the supporting role of the matter.

irrelevant query

Indicates the lack of connection to the main subject.

unrelated problem

Highlights the lack of association with the core problem.

FAQs

How can I incorporate "peripheral question" into my writing?

Use "peripheral question" to identify and address less important, tangential inquiries. This helps to maintain focus on the primary subject matter while acknowledging related, but non-essential, points.

What is a good substitute for "peripheral question"?

Consider using phrases such as "minor issue", "tangential inquiry", or "side issue" to convey a similar meaning depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "peripheral question"?

Yes, "peripheral question" is a correct and acceptable phrase to use when referring to a question that is not central to the main topic.

How does a "peripheral question" differ from a central one?

A "peripheral question" is related to the main topic but is not essential for understanding or resolving the core issues. It addresses secondary or tangential aspects, whereas a central question directly impacts the main subject.