pivotal question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pivotal question" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe an important question that is essential for understanding a particular subject or situation. For example, "What will be the impact of the new policy on the economy is a pivotal question that must be explored in greater depth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The pivotal question is how to distinguish between substantively "advantageous", "normal" and "disadvantageous" tax treatments.

Columbia University

It is a pivotal question in the evolving world of white-collar work.

The New York Times - Magazine

So it is back again to that pivotal question: What exactly does North Korea want?

The Washington Post

The pivotal question, in the long run, is: Which trend will prevail?

The Washington Post

For Kerr, the pivotal question remains precisely who the eel are being sold to.

The Guardian

A pivotal question: what kinds of decisions should be made on the basis of belief rather than reason?

The New York Times

The level of animosity that a Clinton candidacy could arouse is a pivotal question in the 2008 campaign.

The New York Times

But the models have not clearly answered a pivotal question: how sensitive is the climate to the intensifying greenhouse effect?

The New York Times - Science

Again, the pivotal question centered on Pakistan's army: Just how hard was it really trying to capture and kill terrorists?

The New York Times

Another "pivotal question," he said, "is the value of the health care business on a stand-alone basis".

The New York Times

That is the pivotal question for a pitcher who has not thrown 200 innings in a season since 2004.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pivotal question" to emphasize the importance of a specific question that needs to be addressed to gain a better understanding of a situation or topic.

Common error

Avoid using "pivotal question" for routine inquiries. Reserve it for situations where the question genuinely holds significant weight and its answer has substantial implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pivotal question" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a question of critical importance. As seen in Ludwig, it is used to emphasize that the answer to the question is essential for understanding a particular issue or making a crucial decision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

25%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pivotal question" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote a key inquiry that is crucial for understanding a subject or situation. As Ludwig AI shows, it appears most often in news and media, science, and academic contexts. It is important to reserve its use for questions that genuinely hold significant weight. Alternative phrases include ""key question"" and "critical question". Remember that using "pivotal question" effectively helps emphasize the importance of the inquiry and its impact on the outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

key question

Emphasizes the importance of the question being central to the topic.

critical question

Highlights the necessity of addressing the question due to its significant impact.

essential question

Stresses that the question is indispensable for understanding the subject.

central question

Focuses on the question being the core of the discussion.

core question

Highlights the fundamental nature of the question.

major question

Indicates the significant scale and importance of the question.

primary question

Stresses the question's role as the most important one.

fundamental question

Focuses on the question being a basic and foundational element.

basic question

Emphasizes the foundational nature of the question.

decisive question

Highlights that the question's answer will significantly influence outcomes.

FAQs

How to use "pivotal question" in a sentence?

The phrase "pivotal question" is used to highlight a key inquiry that is crucial for understanding or resolving a situation. For example, "The "key question" is whether the company can adapt to the changing market conditions".

What can I say instead of "pivotal question"?

You can use alternatives like ""key question"", "critical question", or "essential question" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

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

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "pivotal question" implies that the question is not only important but also crucial and decisive for the outcome or understanding of a situation, whereas "important question" simply emphasizes significance.

What's the difference between "pivotal question" and "central question"?

"Pivotal question" emphasizes the decisive nature of the question in influencing outcomes, while "central question" highlights that the question is at the core of the issue being discussed.