preceding question

USAGE SUMMARY

"preceding question" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a question that has already been asked which is relevant to the topic of discussion. For example, "The preceding question referred to how the company will respond to the changing market conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

2. What does your answer to the preceding question imply for directors' and officers' incentives to settle a derivative action?

Harvard University

That last, by the way, is not an exclamation of shock but rather an answer to the preceding question, posed with reference to Mr. Smith.

The New York Times

The sentence — "In 1993, the U.S. Congress canceled a larger American collider, the superconducting super collider, which would have been bigger than the CERN machine" — was part of a question, not part of the answer to the preceding question.

The New York Times - Science

Provide enough time before the end of the period for students to meet with another group, share their photo descriptions, and discuss the last preceding question, adding to or modifying, as appropriate, their own group's list of qualities that fix an image in the mind.

The New York Times

After initially responding defensively to a television news reporter who asked him directly on Monday about his Jewish ancestry and saying it was important not to make "aspersions about people because of their religious beliefs," Mr. Allen later said his objection was to a preceding question, about whether his mother had taught him the word "macaca".

The New York Times

From your answer to the preceding question, recall that these kinds of instructions introduce hazards in the datapath pipeline, and that one technique to deal with them was to have a __________ that chooses to always execute the first instruction of one of the outcomes of the _________.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

and incorporates answers to the preceding questions.

The New York Times

We also find evidence that responses to the later question are influenced by preceding questions on social capital.

Journal of Comparative Economics

4. WRAP-UP/HOMEWORK: Each student should prepare a summary of his or her group's research that answers all of the preceding questions.

The New York Times

Using a combination of print and electronic literature, this course will explore the preceding questions as part of a more general investigation on what it means to be an author in the 21 st Century.

University of California, Berkeley

The most effective backup plans take all the preceding questions and issues into account when deciding on the plan's various elements: the backup software, media selection, number and placement of backup servers, the schedule of backup operations, the storage locations for archived data, and facilities and procedures for various types of data restoration, and the like.

Handbook of Network and System Administration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring back to a "preceding question", ensure the context makes it clear which question you are referencing, especially if multiple questions have been asked.

Common error

Don't assume your audience remembers all the questions. If there's any chance of confusion, briefly restate the "preceding question" when referring to it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preceding question" functions as a determiner + noun, specifying a particular question that has already been asked within a conversation, document, or other form of communication. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is used correctly in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preceding question" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to reference a question that has already been posed. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it's frequently found in academic, scientific, and news contexts. While it is a common expression, it's important to ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity. Using alternative phrases such as "previous question" or "aforementioned question" can sometimes enhance clarity or formality. Ludwig AI analysis confirms the appropriateness and versatility of this phrase across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous question

Replaces "preceding" with "previous", emphasizing the temporal order.

earlier question

Emphasizes the earlier timing of the question.

aforementioned question

Uses a more formal term, "aforementioned", to refer to a question mentioned earlier.

question previously posed

Adds detail by specifying that the question was 'previously posed'.

question above

Indicates the question asked immediately before the current point of reference.

the prior inquiry

Substitutes 'question' with 'inquiry' and 'preceding' with 'prior' for a more formal tone.

the initial question

Replaces "preceding" with "initial", focusing on the original question.

the question in the lead

Replaces "preceding" with "in the lead" to refer to the first question.

the originating question

Highlights that the first question started something.

the opening question

Refers to a first question in a discussion or a conversation.

FAQs

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

You can use "preceding question" to refer back to a question that has already been asked. For example, "In response to the "preceding question", the data indicates a significant increase in user engagement."

What are some alternatives to saying "preceding question"?

Alternatives include "previous question", "aforementioned question", or "earlier question", depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it redundant to say "previous preceding question"?

Yes, saying "previous preceding question" is redundant. Both "previous" and "preceding" indicate something that came before, so using them together is unnecessary. Stick to either "preceding question" or "previous question".

What's the difference between "preceding question" and "following question"?

"Preceding question" refers to a question that was asked earlier, while "following question" refers to a question that will be asked next. They are opposite in terms of the order of questions.