secondary question

USAGE SUMMARY

"secondary question" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a question that is asked in response to a previous question. For example, "The teacher asked us to explain our project. I had a secondary question about where we could find extra materials for our project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Who was winning the fight is a secondary question.

The New York Times

The primary thrust is to grow brands organically and would we need capital to facilitate that … is a secondary question".

The Guardian

"But that is a secondary question on what are the priorities and I believe the potential for organic growth is significant.

The Guardian

Another thing this memoir records Gornick as failing to acquire is a live-in partner, but that is treated as a secondary question to her working life and to the city – New York – where she has lived this whole time.

The Guardian - Books

Ryley said he wanted the next set of debates to "have a bit more discourse, more freedom of discussion with the opportunity for the audience member who put their question to come up with a secondary question".

The Guardian

It's that smirk on the face of Joey Tribbiani in Friends when he asks every new girl, "How you doin'?" with its unspoken secondary question: "How long will you pretend to hold out against my irresistible sex appeal?" It's Mrs Robinson in The Graduate, disturbing Benjamin Braddock's 21-year-old self-absorption by throwing her car keys into his fish tank.

Independent

A secondary question evaluated if student on-task behavior correlated with increased data collection.

Journal of School Psychology

Study design requires thoughtful crafting of the primary question, secondary question, and subanalyses.

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Annual

A secondary question was whether the relative spatial region of the sound scenes affected change discrimination.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

A secondary question considered whether the frequency of features of neuropathic pain, kinesiophobia, high pain ratings, hyperalgesia, and allodynia differed according to subgroups of sensory phenotypes.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

A secondary question was to explore the relationships between traditional landscape metrics and the semivariogram, a geostatistical tool used to describe 2D complexity.

Journal of Arid Environments

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When conducting research, clearly differentiate between your primary research question and any "secondary questions" to maintain focus and clarity in your analysis.

Common error

Avoid treating a "secondary question" as the primary focus of your work. Ensure it genuinely supports or expands on the main investigation, rather than overshadowing it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "secondary question" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It identifies a question that is less important than a primary question. Ludwig confirms this usage is standard.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "secondary question" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, especially within scientific, news, and business contexts. It denotes a question that is subordinate or supportive to a primary line of inquiry. Ludwig's AI confirms its correct usage in written English. When using this phrase, ensure that the "secondary question" genuinely complements the main topic, rather than causing confusion or distraction. Alternatives such as ""follow-up question"" or ""subsidiary question"" can offer similar meanings depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

follow-up question

This emphasizes the sequential nature of the inquiry.

subsidiary question

This highlights the dependent or subordinate nature of the question.

additional inquiry

This focuses on adding more information through questioning.

related question

This emphasizes the connection to the primary topic.

ancillary question

Similar to subsidiary, but perhaps more formal.

supporting question

Focuses on the question's role in providing support to a main idea.

supplemental question

Highlights the adding of something to complete or enhance.

branching question

Describes a question that stems from the original topic.

tangential question

Indicates a slight deviation from the main subject.

less important question

Directly indicates the relative significance of the question.

FAQs

How is a "secondary question" different from a primary one?

A "secondary question" is a question that arises as a consequence or extension of the main, or primary, question. It's related but less central to the core inquiry.

When is it appropriate to introduce a "secondary question"?

Introduce a "secondary question" after establishing the primary question. Ensure the "follow-up question" adds relevant depth without diverting from the main objective.

Can a "secondary question" be as important as the primary question?

While a "secondary question" can be important, it typically supports or complements the primary question. If it gains significant importance, consider if it warrants becoming a primary focus instead.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "secondary question"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "follow-up question", "subsidiary question", or "related question" to convey a similar meaning.