question in return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "question in return" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a question that is asked back in response to another question. Example: "After I asked her about her weekend, she had a question in return." Alternative expressions include "reciprocal question" and "follow-up question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Instead, a question in return.

The Guardian

After the obligatory monosyllabic grunt to question one, the cocky smirk that accompanied grunt number two, I was relieved that, in response to question three, he actually asked me a rather interesting question in return.

The Guardian

Ask a master gardener what kind of vegetables you should grow, and you often get a question in return: Well, what do you like to eat? "I like avocados," I told Jackie Smith, an extension coordinator in suburban Minneapolis who also runs the state's testing of vegetable varieties.

The New York Times

Learning was only facilitated where necessary, such as responding to a student's query by posing a thought-provoking question in return.

International Journal of STEM Education

He smiled and asked me a question in return.

Vice

She knows better than to ask the question in return.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Call Ms. Ivers with a question, and she will ask you a lot of questions in return: What's your angle?

The New York Times

Lovett-Murray, meanwhile, riffs with his team-mates about contests, asking them questions off the cuff and fielding questions in return.

The Guardian - Sport

It produces a couple of hexagrams, and asks me two questions in return: "What do you bring with you into each new situation?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Once you have settled on a planner, expect to be questioned in return, often right up to the day of your departure as the planner fine-tunes.

The New York Times - Travel

They begin a relationship, with Zoe promising to earn his trust and not "ask any questions" in return for his supplying her with sensitive political information.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In journalistic contexts, use this phrase to indicate that an interviewee is being evasive or is engaging in a deeper, more thoughtful dialogue.

Common error

Do not use "question in return" when you mean a 'question of return', which usually refers to the legal or logistical problem of someone returning to a specific place or status. Ensure the 'in return' clearly signifies 'as a reciprocal act'.

Linguistic Context

In terms of syntax, "question in return" functions as a noun phrase where 'question' is the head and 'in return' is a prepositional phrase acting as an adjectival modifier. According to Ludwig AI, it is commonly used as a direct object or following a verb like 'pose' or 'ask'.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science & Research

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Business Planning

3%

Formal Legislation

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "question in return" is a robust and grammatically correct noun phrase that effectively describes the act of responding to a query with another query. Ludwig data highlights its prevalence in high-tier journalism, where it is used to denote conversational pivots, evasive maneuvers or genuine intellectual exchanges. Unlike more technical terms such as "<a href="/s/counter-question" target="_blank" rel="alternative">counter-question", this phrase remains descriptive and adaptable across various registers. It is particularly useful for writers who wish to emphasize the reciprocal nature of an interaction without implying a confrontational tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

counter-question

Uses a compound noun to emphasize a more direct or confrontational response

reciprocal question

Highlights the mutual exchange between participants in a more formal tone

follow-up question

Focuses on the sequence of the inquiry rather than just the act of returning it

query in response

Uses a more formal synonym for question to describe the reactive nature of the inquiry

interrogative reply

Technical and highly formal way to describe answering with a question

returning the question

Describes the action of posing the same or a similar query back to the sender

answering with a question

A descriptive phrase focusing on the communicative strategy used

back-and-forth query

Emphasizes the iterative and conversational nature of the exchange

reversal of inquiry

Abstract phrasing that focuses on the shift in the direction of the questioning

asking back

The most informal and direct way to describe the same action

FAQs

How to use question in return in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a conversational reaction, for example: "When I asked for his ID, he gave me a "question in return": 'Why do you need to see it?'".

What can I say instead of question in return?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "<a href="/s/counter-question" target="_blank" rel="alternative">counter-question", "<a href="/s/reciprocal+question" target="_blank" rel="alternative">reciprocal question" or "<a href="/s/follow-up+question" target="_blank" rel="alternative">follow-up question".

Is it correct to say question in return?

Yes, it is perfectly correct and widely used in high-quality English sources to denote a question asked as a response to another.

What is the difference between question in return and counter-question?

A "<a href="/s/counter-question" target="_blank" rel="alternative">counter-question" often implies a more immediate or challenging response, while "question in return" is a neutral description of a reciprocal inquiry.