prompt a question

USAGE SUMMARY

"prompt a question" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to encourage someone to ask a question or offer a suggestion. For example, you could say, "The discussion has been going on for a while now, let's take a break and prompt a question from the group."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

However, when I went to Sudan, the fact that I was a black man who did not speak Arabic would prompt a question about where I was from.

The Guardian - Sport

And they prompt a question that has haunted past administrations: How do you compel a country to stop its drive for nuclear weapons when sanctions fail and military action seems far too risky?

The New York Times

Nor was it enough to prompt a question from the reporters in the Trump Tower lobby, though they did ask Mr. West about Russian efforts to elect Mr. Trump president.

The New York Times

The experiences of Rodney Rocha, a NASA engineer, before the space shuttle Columbia tragedy (front page, Sept. 26) prompt a question: Why were the irresponsible managers involved reassigned or allowed to retire, almost certainly with a taxpayer-financed pension?

The New York Times

Although that does prompt a question that has already been raised eloquentlyhere by nightjar12: "It strikes me as odd to write a fictional character but call him/her after a real one … Why not just write complete fiction?

The Guardian - Books

Recent conversations with these eighth graders and 10 of their peers prompt a question: Is it possible for teen-agers to engage in an activity for fun, even if they can't do it perfectly or it doesn't serve a larger, more practical objective?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Which prompts a question.

The Economist

This prompts a question.

The Guardian

Prompts a question, doesn't it?

Independent

Yet it also prompts a question.

The Economist

But it prompts a question.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the specific nuance you want to convey. If you mean something more sudden or unexpected, "spark a question" might be more appropriate than "prompt a question".

Common error

Avoid using "prompt a question" when you actually mean to answer or address a question. "Prompt a question" means to cause or encourage a question to arise, not to respond to one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prompt a question" functions as a verb phrase, where "prompt" acts as a transitive verb and "a question" serves as the direct object. The Ludwig examples show this phrase is used to indicate something causes or encourages an inquiry.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prompt a question" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that means to cause or encourage an inquiry. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, and according to Ludwig, it indicates something causes questioning. While "prompt a question" may not be very common, several alternatives exist, such as "raise a question" or "elicit a question", which can offer different nuances. When using this phrase, ensure you're not confusing it with "answer a question" or the fallacy of "begging the question."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

raise a question

Focuses on the act of bringing a question to attention.

elicit a question

Emphasizes drawing out a question from someone.

spark a question

Highlights the sudden or unexpected generation of a question.

provoke a question

Suggests that something causes or stimulates a question to arise.

trigger a question

Implies that something sets off or initiates a question.

invite a question

Indicates creating an opportunity or opening for a question.

give rise to a question

Highlights that something originates or causes a question.

beg the question

Means to invite an obvious question, though often misused to mean 'raise the question'.

call for a question

Emphasizes the necessity or appropriateness of asking a question.

stimulate inquiry

Focuses on encouraging a general process of questioning and investigation.

FAQs

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

You can use "prompt a question" to indicate that something stimulates or causes an inquiry. For example, "The new data may "prompt a question" about the study's methodology".

What can I say instead of "prompt a question"?

You can use alternatives like "raise a question", "elicit a question", or "spark a question" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey. Each alternative has a slightly different nuance, so choose the one that best fits your context.

Is it correct to say "prompt to question" instead of "prompt a question"?

While "prompt" can be used with "to" to indicate encouraging someone to do something (e.g., "prompt someone to act"), "prompt a question" is more common and idiomatic when referring to something causing a question to arise.

What's the difference between "prompt a question" and "beg the question"?

"Prompt a question" means to cause a question to arise, whereas "beg the question" is an informal fallacy of assuming the conclusion in an argument. Although related to questions, they differ significantly in meaning.