question lies

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "question lies" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey that a question is present or exists, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "The question lies at the heart of our discussion, and we must address it thoroughly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Behind this question lies another.

The New York Times

The answer to that question lies not in fiction, but current events.

The Guardian - Film

But a more fundamental question lies in the nature of the UK's constitution.

The Guardian - Opinion

The answer to that question lies in football's tendency to indulge in willful ignorance when it comes to political controversy.

Independent

And, in politics, the nature-nurture question lies at the centre of the argument about "social intervention".

The Economist

And in that question lies another: Is expertise destined for marginalization in the new universe of "American Idol" and Epinions.com?

The New York Times

The answer to that question lies in the second parallel struggle that will be played out this Sunday in central Belfast.

The Guardian

Gell-Mann and another American physicist, George Zweig, independently decided in 1964 that the answer to that question lies in the fundamental nature of the hadrons.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The gene in question lies in a region of the genome that promotes the activity of a second gene, which encodes a protein called the serotonin transporter.

The Economist

Third, how will supply respond if the price stays high?The answer to the first question lies largely in the state of the world economy.

The Economist

All children eventually question lies their parents have told them, but the Fangs take that chicanery to a whole new level.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Although widely used, consider replacing "question lies" with grammatically correct alternatives like "the question rests" or "the central question is" for clearer and more precise writing.

Common error

The phrase "question lies" incorrectly uses a plural verb form ("lies") with a singular subject ("question"). Ensure subject-verb agreement by using "the question rests" or rephrasing to "the questions lie" when referring to multiple questions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "question lies" functions as a statement emphasizing the significance or location of a question in relation to a problem or discussion. Despite its frequent usage, Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

39%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "question lies" is frequently used across various domains, including News & Media and Science, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. The error stems from a subject-verb disagreement. Better alternatives like "the "question rests"", "the "issue centers on"", or "the "central question" is" offer grammatical correctness and clarity. Therefore, while "question lies" is widely understood, opting for grammatically sound alternatives enhances the precision and professionalism of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the central question is

Directly states that the question is the primary or most important one.

the key question is

Indicates that the question is essential for understanding or resolving a situation.

the fundamental question is

Suggests the question is foundational and crucial for further analysis.

the question rests

Replaces "lies" with "rests", maintaining the sense of the question being situated or based on something.

the real question is

Emphasizes the genuineness and importance of the question being posed.

the question centers on

Emphasizes that the question is the main focus or point of attention.

the heart of the matter is

Shifts from a direct question to the essence of the issue, but conveys a similar central idea.

the crux of the issue is

Highlights the most important or decisive point in the discussion.

the main issue is

Broadens the scope slightly from a specific question to the overall problem.

the core of the problem is

Similar to "heart of the matter", this focuses on the central element of a problem.

FAQs

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

While "question lies" is commonly used, it's grammatically incorrect. Instead, consider using phrases like "the "central question" is" or "the "key question" is" for clarity.

What can I say instead of "question lies"?

You can use alternatives such as "the "question rests"", "the "issue centers on"", or "the "heart of the matter" is", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "question lies" or "question rests"?

"Question rests" is the grammatically correct alternative to "question lies", as it maintains subject-verb agreement. "Question lies" is considered incorrect due to the mismatch between the singular subject and the plural verb form.

What's the difference between "question lies" and "question rests"?

The primary difference is grammatical correctness. "Question lies" is grammatically incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement, while ""question rests"" is grammatically sound and conveys a similar meaning.