question popped up

USAGE SUMMARY

You can use the phrase "question popped up" in written English.
It is an expression used to refer to a new, unexpected, and often difficult or puzzling question that has just surfaced. For example: "A new question popped up in our discussion: Should we stay with the existing plan or make changes?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

A. When this question popped up for the third time, I realized there was no getting around it.

The New York Times

This question popped up in the afternoon session: would the panel commit to a convention next February to review progress?

The Guardian - Opinion

MIAMI, Jan . 1— When the same old irksome question popped up recently at one of his final public events here, Gov. Jeb Bush, addressing Spanish-speaking reporters, gave an atypically dramatic answer: "Yo no tengo futuro," or "I have no future".

The New York Times

CARACAS, Venezuela — Just when Venezuelans thought they had their epithets down pat for describing — or disparaging — admirers of the United States, a new question popped up: What could be lower than "yanquis," the less than endearing term that senior Venezuelan officials use for Americans?

The New York Times

You know, at least an NSA question popped up in this Fox News debate to keep up the conversation.

TechCrunch

Chances are when that question popped up, you reached for your smartphone — because, well, it's smarter than we are and it holds all the answers.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

This question pops up everywhere, underlying concerns about "failure to launch" and "boomerang kids".

The New York Times - Magazine

If that question pops up on an exam or at a dinner party, you might want to be wary.

The New York Times

The question pops up often, too, when starting searches about George Clooney, the Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, the actress Ellen Page, Genghis Khan, several cartoon characters and even the pope.

The New York Times - Tech

Color-coded results for each student and question pop up instantly in the teacher app in rows and columns, with green boxes indicating correct responses, and red boxes indicating incorrect responses.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It was from a Dell customer, up early to play golf, someone he had never met in person who had seen his coffee question pop up in his LinkedIn account.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "question popped up" when you want to convey that a question arose unexpectedly or spontaneously. It is suitable for informal and semi-formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "question popped up" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more formal alternatives like "question arose" or "issue emerged" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "question popped up" functions as a statement indicating the sudden or unexpected emergence of a question. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in various contexts. The phrase is often used to introduce a query that requires attention or resolution.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "question popped up" is a grammatically correct and acceptably common way to describe the sudden appearance of a question, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While suitable for news, media, and general discussions, it might be too informal for strictly academic or business contexts. Alternatives like "question arose" or "issue emerged" are more appropriate for formal writing. Remember to consider the context and audience when selecting the most suitable phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

question arose

Focuses on the emergence of the question, similar to the original phrase but with a more formal tone.

question came up

A more common and neutral way to express that a question was introduced.

query surfaced

Emphasizes the act of a question becoming visible or known.

inquiry emerged

A slightly more formal term for a question becoming apparent.

issue presented itself

Shifts the focus from a question to a problem or issue that has appeared.

matter was raised

Highlights the act of someone bringing up a topic or question.

problem surfaced

Indicates that a difficulty or challenge has become apparent.

dilemma arose

Implies a situation involving a difficult choice or problem that has emerged.

concern emerged

Suggests that a feeling of worry or unease has surfaced.

topic came into discussion

Describes the introduction of a subject into a conversation or debate.

FAQs

How can I use "question popped up" in a sentence?

You can use "question popped up" to indicate that a question arose unexpectedly or spontaneously. For example, "During the meeting, a difficult "question popped up" regarding the budget."

What can I say instead of "question popped up"?

You can use alternatives like "question arose", "question came up", or "inquiry emerged" depending on the context.

Is "question popped up" suitable for formal writing?

While "question popped up" is acceptable in many contexts, it may be too informal for highly formal or academic writing. Consider using more formal alternatives like "question arose" or "issue emerged".

What's the difference between "question popped up" and "question arose"?

"Question popped up" suggests a more spontaneous or unexpected appearance of a question, while "question arose" is more formal and neutral, simply indicating that a question came into existence.