small question

USAGE SUMMARY

"small question" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a question that is not overly complicated or of great importance. For example, "I just have a small question about the paper's due date."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

It's no small question for Hollywood.

The New York Times

She would never stake all her political capital on one small question.

The Guardian

But before we get to that, there's the small question of the Democratic nomination.

The Guardian

"If you ask a small question," he said, "you get a small answer".

The New York Times

Did we not hear that yesterday?" And then there is the small question of alcohol.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A theory, however strongly you believe in it, inherently holds a small question mark.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

All great questions come from small questions.

The New York Times - Magazine

There are, however, two small questions about this strategy.

The Guardian

These are not small questions, and nothing should be held against Russo for returning to them over the course of several novels.

The New York Times - Books

Its first edition is seven hundred and forty-two pages long, and much of it has to do with small questions of spelling and pronunciation.

The New Yorker

On Monday, I e-mailed Semente's owner, Ms. Brufato, with a few small questions I needed answered for this article.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "small question", ensure the context aligns with the implied lack of significance. Overusing it might diminish the perceived importance of your communication, so reserve it for genuinely minor inquiries.

Common error

Avoid using "small question" to preface queries that, while seemingly simple, have potentially significant repercussions or require considerable thought. This can undermine the perceived importance of the issue at hand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small question" functions as a pre-modifier and noun. The adjective "small" qualifies the noun "question", indicating the question's relative unimportance or simplicity, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small question" is a common and grammatically sound way to introduce a simple or unimportant inquiry. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to ensure its usage aligns with the actual significance of the question to avoid miscommunication. Alternatives like "minor query" or "simple question" can offer similar nuances. Therefore, consider the context and audience to gauge if "small question" accurately reflects the nature of the inquiry.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unimportant question

Directly states the lack of importance of the question.

minor query

Replaces "question" with "query" and "small" with "minor", emphasizing the insignificance of the inquiry.

a question of minor importance

Rephrases to emphasize lack of significance of the question

insignificant inquiry

Substitutes both words to highlight the lack of importance.

a question of little consequence

Emphasizes the unimportance of the question's outcome.

trivial matter to ask

Focuses on the subject as being unimportant to ask.

simple question

Focuses on the easiness of the question instead of the relevance.

minor point to clarify

Shifts focus to clarification and uses "minor" instead of "small".

brief inquiry

Highlights the short nature of the question.

small matter for discussion

Reframes the question as a "matter for discussion".

FAQs

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

You can use "small question" to introduce a minor or simple inquiry, as in, "I have a "small question" about the project deadline".

What's the difference between "small question" and "minor question"?

"Small question" and "minor question" are largely interchangeable, both denoting a question of little importance or complexity. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "small question"?

It's appropriate to use the phrase ""small question"" when you genuinely believe the inquiry is simple and won't require much time or effort to answer. Be mindful of the context to avoid undermining important issues.

What can I say instead of "small question"?

You can use alternatives like "minor query", "simple question", or "trivial question" depending on the context.