prior question

USAGE SUMMARY

"prior question" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It refers to a question or issue that must be addressed before moving on to discuss or answer another question. Example: Before we can discuss the specifics of the project, there is a prior question that needs to be answered: how much time do we have to complete it?.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

But there is a prior question they must first answer: what is Labour for?

The Guardian - Opinion

Its great difficulty was with a prior question: which sort of thing are you – a building or a movement?

The Guardian - Opinion

Judge Ellis's decision on the prior question, the applicability of the False Claims Act, is likely to be appealed by the losing party.

The New York Times

Its starting point was not how wealth is distributed but the prior question of how wealth comes to exist in the first place.

The Guardian - Books

However, this comes logically subsequent to the prior question of whether the State's justifications for the differential treatment of a group are "objective and reasonable" (Thlimmenos).

Columbia University

This uncertainty resolves only when measured (for example, by being asked a question), and the result will be affected by the state of the individual's reasoning in the wake of any previous measurements (such as a prior question).

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

In answering the prior questions, most respondents had expressed concern about solving the drug-abuse problem.

The New York Times

We find that the order used in prior questions may change people's opinions toward various attributes of the good to be valued, and thereby change WTP by a substantial amount.

Ecological Economics

It came at the end of a 20-minute survey, with the latter 10 min focused on solar geoengineering.Footnote 2 Prior questions, thus, increased familiarity with solar geoengineering beyond the general public.

Nature

Given the susceptibility of financial forecasts to manipulation, overconfidence, and bias, executives should depend on rigorous answers to the prior questions in the screen for their conclusions about profitability.

Harvard Business Review

Such accounts may help to explain what specific reforms are enacted but they lack the capacity to account satisfactorily for the logically prior questions: when and why are any successful reforms raised on the policy agenda?

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prior question" to clearly indicate that one issue must be resolved before others can be effectively addressed.

Common error

Avoid using "prior question" when the sequence or dependency of questions is already obvious or when a simpler term like "first question" suffices. Overuse can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prior question" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a question or issue that needs to be addressed before moving forward with other related inquiries or considerations. Ludwig examples highlight its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

31%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prior question" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term across various domains, including news, academia, and science. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to highlight a question that must be addressed before others can be effectively discussed. Its communicative purpose is to establish a logical order and emphasize the importance of tackling a specific issue first. To enhance clarity and precision in your writing, ensure that the use of "prior question" accurately reflects a genuine logical dependency, avoiding overuse in contexts where simpler phrasing would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary question

Focuses on the idea that the question comes before others in a sequence or process.

antecedent question

Highlights the question's role as a logical precursor.

foundational question

Emphasizes the question's fundamental nature.

initial inquiry

Suggests the question is the starting point of an investigation.

overarching question

Highlights the broader scope or encompassing nature of the question.

primary concern

Shifts focus to the importance and priority of the issue being questioned.

fundamental issue

Emphasizes the basic and essential aspect of the question.

key consideration

Highlights the importance of the question in decision-making.

threshold question

Indicates that the question must be answered to pass a certain point or standard.

precedent inquiry

Highlights that the inquiry comes chronologically before the other inquiries.

FAQs

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

The phrase "prior question" indicates an issue that must be resolved before addressing subsequent concerns. For example, "Before discussing budget allocation, a "preliminary question" is whether we have secured sufficient funding."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "prior question"?

You can use alternatives such as ""preliminary question"", "foundational question", or "initial inquiry" depending on the context.

Is "prior question" the same as "first question"?

While both refer to a question asked earlier, "prior question" emphasizes a logical dependency, suggesting that answering it is essential before moving forward. "First question" simply indicates the order of questioning.

When is it appropriate to use "prior question" in academic writing?

"Prior question" is suitable in academic writing when you need to highlight that one issue logically precedes and influences the discussion of others. It is useful to establish a "fundamental issue" before moving forward.