spark questions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spark questions" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has caused people to ask questions. For example: "The announcement of the company's new policy sparked a lot of questions from employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I cook one of Mark's favorite dinners weekly, and let it spark questions.

The New York Times

However, Apple's emphasis on human curation is likely to spark questions about what will happen when the company – or competing platforms like Android – become the news.

The Guardian - Tech

The leak of the directive is likely to spark questions about the legality of the operation and about whether state department diplomats are expected to spy.

The Guardian

But Knight is hardly the first performer to spark questions about the severity of singers' and actors' apprehensions.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran was also sparking questions about the implications for oil production.

The Guardian - Business

The lack of recordings in the heart of Moscow has sparked questions for authorities, who have claimed all cameras were working properly.

Independent

The action by Mr. Obama immediately sparked questions of what constitutes an actual Congressional recess, the legality of Mr. Obama's move and the future of the Congressional confirmation process.

The New York Times

The rapidly accelerating crisis has sparked questions as to whether Greece may exit the 19-member Eurozone, in a potential move being dubbed Grexit.

Independent

Yet all the talks sparked questions from the children which showed they had been engaged and were considering each job role as a potential career path.

The Guardian

New South Wales police have spent more than $66m funding its sniffer dog drug detection unit since 2010, sparking questions over the program's effectiveness.

The Guardian

It also sparked questions that have surfaced time and time again in many scandals, from Iran-Contra to Watergate, from the Pentagon Papers to the Clive Ponting affair.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spark questions" when you want to emphasize that something has ignited curiosity or debate, leading to active questioning and exploration of a topic.

Common error

Avoid using "spark questions" too frequently in your writing. Vary your language with alternatives like "raise questions", "prompt inquiries", or "elicit questions" to maintain reader engagement and prevent your writing from sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spark questions" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of initiating or generating questions. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples show it is used to describe situations that cause people to ask questions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spark questions" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of initiating or generating inquiries. While relatively rare in occurrence, as confirmed by Ludwig, it is considered appropriate for various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. Alternatives such as "raise questions" or "prompt inquiries" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. When using "spark questions", emphasize the idea of igniting curiosity or debate, but avoid overuse to maintain the freshness and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

raise questions

This alternative is more direct, focusing on the act of bringing questions into consideration.

prompt inquiries

This alternative uses more formal language, replacing "questions" with "inquiries" and "spark" with "prompt."

elicit questions

This alternative emphasizes drawing out questions that may already exist.

instigate questions

This alternative suggests a more active role in initiating questions, possibly implying controversy.

generate questions

This alternative focuses on the creation or production of questions.

give rise to questions

This alternative is a more formal and indirect way of saying something causes questions.

lead to inquiries

This alternative suggests that something progresses or results in questions being asked.

cause questioning

This alternative is a more general way of saying something results in doubt or interrogation.

arouse curiosity

This alternative focuses on creating a sense of wonder or interest that leads to questions.

invite scrutiny

This alternative implies that something is being examined closely as a result of the questions.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "spark questions" in a sentence?

Use "spark questions" to indicate that something has triggered curiosity or debate. For example, "The new findings "spark questions" about the previous research methods."

What are some alternatives to "spark questions" that I can use?

You can use alternatives like "raise questions", "prompt inquiries", or "elicit questions" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "spark questions" or "raise questions"?

"Raise questions" is a more direct and common phrase. "Spark questions" is suitable when you want to emphasize the element of initiation or sudden interest.

What's the difference between "spark questions" and "invite scrutiny"?

"Spark questions" indicates the beginning of inquiry, while "invite scrutiny" suggests a call for closer examination or critical analysis.