spark the question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spark the question" is not commonly used in written English, but it can be understood in context.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something has triggered or initiated a question or inquiry. Example: "The unexpected results of the experiment sparked the question of whether our hypothesis was correct."

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The tiny stakes at issue here spark the question: why should archaeology projects be the poster children for this campaign?

University of California, Berkeley

The structure of Monument Valley – a series of self-contained puzzles – does spark the question of what next, now that it's made its development costs back in a couple of weeks on the App Store?

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

For me, this sparked the question: Can branding and design bring clarity and focus to the daunting process of an M&A?

The Guardian

The image of Cardinals cornerback Michael Adams's index finger hooked on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers's face mask was seen far and wide, sparking the question of whether it was a penalty, which would have negated the fumble Adams caused.

The New York Times - Sports

Today, one of these URL shortening services, bit.ly, raised $2 million, sparking the question: How much are these things actually worth?

TechCrunch

Watching the story of her life in the intimate film "Dolores" sparked the question: how has leadership in the Latino movement shifted?

HuffPost

Increase in HNWI demand and global art market growth sparks the question, "Is there a bubble in the art market?" Auction prices of late have surpassed the $100m mark, leading many to suspect a bubble in the art market that will ultimately have to burst.

HuffPost

For 10 years he became a recluse--a phantom whose occasional appearances sparked the question: "What is Stephen Wolfram really up to?" "Three centuries ago, science was transformed by the dramatic new idea that rules based on mathematical equations could be used to describe the natural world.

Los Angeles Times

The enormous amount of transcriptome data generated to date has routinely spark the same old question that rice geneticists has long been trying to address even prior to the advent of the genome-enabled era of biology, that is the question of: What unifying DNA signals determine the spatio-temporal transcription patterns of rice genes and how do these elements work?

Rice

However, as exemplified by the burst of recent research on HDAC biology in RA, the initial disparate results and conclusions are what accelerate our drive to spark the most intriguing questions and reach this consensus.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

These questions helped spark the field of gene therapy.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs like "raise" or "prompt" for increased clarity and conciseness in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "spark the question" excessively in formal academic writing, as it may be perceived as less precise than alternatives like "raise the question" or "prompt the question".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spark the question" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that something has initiated or triggered a question or inquiry. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not commonly used but understandable. It connects a preceding event or observation with a resulting question.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spark the question" is a phrase used to indicate that something has initiated a question or inquiry. While Ludwig AI notes it is understandable, it is not as commonly used as alternatives like "raise the question" or "prompt the question". Grammatically acceptable, its usage tends to be more common in news and media, with some presence in academia and science. The phrase may benefit from stronger verb choices in formal writing for enhanced clarity and precision. Consider using alternatives to improve conciseness and impact in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

raise the question

More direct and common way to indicate that something brings a question to consideration.

trigger the question

Similar to "spark the question" but focuses on a more immediate reaction.

prompt the question

Similar to "raise the question", but emphasizes the act of causing or encouraging a question.

pose the question

Highlights the act of presenting a question for discussion or debate.

give rise to the question

More formal and emphasizes the creation or emergence of a question.

invite the question

Indicates that something makes a particular question appropriate or likely.

lead to the question

Indicates a sequence where one thing naturally brings about a question.

bring up the question

Suggests introducing a question into a conversation or discussion.

instigate the question

Emphasizes the initiation or commencement of the act of questioning.

beg the question

Used when something assumes the conclusion it's trying to prove, often in a logical fallacy.

FAQs

What's a good substitute for "spark the question"?

Consider using alternatives like "raise the question", "prompt the question", or "lead to the question" for clarity.

Is "spark the question" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "spark the question" is not as common or grammatically precise as alternatives. It's acceptable but might benefit from stronger verb choices in formal writing.

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

Use it to indicate that a particular event, observation, or statement has triggered an inquiry or debate. For example, "The unexpected results of the experiment sparked the question of whether our initial hypothesis was correct."

What's the difference between "spark the question" and "beg the question"?

"Spark the question" means to initiate or trigger an inquiry. "Beg the question" refers to a logical fallacy where the conclusion is assumed in the premise, which is different.