skip the question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "skip the question" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that a particular question should not be answered or is not relevant to the discussion. Example: "If you feel uncomfortable discussing that topic, feel free to skip the question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

If you cannot eliminate any wrong answers, it is best to skip the question.

The New York Times

Worried about how all this looks, big retailers have been careful to avoid any suggestion that they're matching faces with data – or at least to skip the question.

The Guardian

After answering questions about his new film, the director was quizzed about the leak and responded, although the press conference moderator offered him the opportunity to skip the question.

The Guardian - Film

Learners hesitated to submit their answers as soon as the questions appeared but rather preferred to skip the question and continue viewing for a very short period by advancing to the next section.

Smart Learning Environments

Furthermore, a question introduced about any vigorous or moderate physical activity during the previous week, such that those stating no activity would skip the IPAQ entirely, and those indicating, e.g. only moderate physical activity, would skip the question about frequency and duration of vigorous activities.

Health Economics Review

From a careful observation of the state sequences it was obvious that the backward jumps occurred mainly due to 3 reasons: (a) Learners hesitated to submit their answers as soon as the questions appeared but rather preferred to skip the question and continue viewing for a very short period by advancing to the next section.

Smart Learning Environments

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Job description — commander for the FARC! References — Timochenko!" He had tried to skip the questions, but he kept receiving the same message, in English: "Turn Back".

The New Yorker

For example, students who are at least 24, or married, will automatically be able to skip the 11 questions about their parents' financial information, and low-income students will be able to skip the questions about assets, which are not used to determine their aid eligibility.

The New York Times

Senator Lott's spokesman, John Czwartacki, said that many constituents had complained that their rights were being infringed and that the senator had encouraged them to skip the questions they objected to and to send in the rest of the form.

The New York Times

CB takes the least time, as many workers do not bother to check a lot of landmarks and simply skip the questions.

Data Science and Engineering

The missed questions were then repeated, giving participants the option to complete each of the unanswered questions or to confirm that they have chosen to skip the questions.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In interviews or discussions, if a question makes you uncomfortable, it's acceptable to politely "skip the question" and explain that you'd rather not answer it, while steering the conversation to a more comfortable topic.

Common error

Avoid assuming that someone who "skips the question" does so because they don't know the answer. They might have personal reasons or find the question irrelevant. Respect their decision not to answer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "skip the question" functions as an imperative verb phrase, instructing the listener or reader to omit a specific question. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's generally considered correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

38%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "skip the question" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that functions as an imperative, advising or instructing someone to bypass a question. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, especially in news, science, and wiki sources. While it's generally neutral in register, understanding when and why someone might "skip the question" is crucial. Remember that "skipping the question" doesn't always imply ignorance; it could be due to personal reasons or irrelevance. Considering alternative phrases like "omit the question" or "decline to answer" can help tailor your communication to specific situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

omit the question

Focuses on the act of leaving out a question without necessarily implying a reason.

pass on the question

Suggests a polite refusal or declination to answer.

decline to answer

A more formal way of saying one refuses to answer a question.

leave the question unanswered

Emphasizes that no response was given to the question.

bypass the question

Suggests avoiding the question, possibly by addressing a related topic instead.

move on to the next question

Highlights the action of proceeding without answering the current question.

table the question

Means to postpone discussion or answering of the question until a later time.

defer the question

Similar to 'table the question', but implies a more indefinite postponement.

beg the question

Implies that the question assumes the conclusion, a logical fallacy.

disregard the question

Implies that the question is not worthy of consideration or response.

FAQs

How can I use "skip the question" in a sentence?

You can use "skip the question" to suggest omitting a question. For example, "If you are unsure, feel free to "omit the question" and come back to it later."

What's a more formal way to say "skip the question"?

A more formal alternative to "skip the question" is to "decline to answer". This phrasing is often used in professional or formal settings.

When is it appropriate to "skip the question" in a survey?

It is appropriate to "skip the question" if you feel uncomfortable answering it, or if the question does not apply to your situation. Most surveys allow you to "leave the question unanswered" if you prefer.

Is it better to guess or "skip the question" on a test?

The decision to guess or "skip the question" depends on the test's scoring system. If there's no penalty for wrong answers, guessing might be advantageous. However, if incorrect answers deduct points, it's often better to "skip the question" and "pass on the question".