tentative question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tentative question" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a question that is phrased in a way that hints that the asker may not expect or be prepared for a response. For example, "Is this even possible?" is a tentative question.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And then a tentative question: "Perhaps 2011 will come to rank alongside 1968 and 1989 as a year of global revolt?" This year has so far seen convulsive events in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria and Yemen.

The Guardian

The performance style is practically anti-theatrical, with actors stammering and pausing and speaking guilelessly right from an actor's first tentative question to the audience: "May I begin?" This is the characterization that the troupe has in mind for its writer-subject, Okada.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But after Israel withdrew its troops last month from Lebanon, where Syria is the power broker, officials here and in Syria voiced tentative questions about renewing the peace effort.

The New York Times

Instead, TV commentators asked tentative questions about a religion that few had heard of.

Huffington Post

Absent are the tentative questions of a young woman trying to process life and love through song, and in their place are the assured words and music of a star who feels like she has learned a lot about life and wants to share her knowledge.

Los Angeles Times

Tentative questions were posed to the data; e.g., What might the understanding behind this expression be?

BMC Family Practice

In "no theory first", there is a broad and tentative research question with some preliminary variables at the outset.

Business Research

Our analysis identifies a number of potentially useful areas for the study of facilitated modelling workshops from a decision development perspective, and articulates a number tentative research questions and testable propositions amenable to empirical research.

European Journal of Operational Research

The tentative agreement in question would give each BART employee the right to six weeks of paid family medical leave per year.

Los Angeles Times

No one, to my knowledge, has investigated these questions systematically, and tentative answers to the questions vary widely.

Science Magazine

It is also science history without the science; more precisely, a series of tentative and piecemeal questions about the cosmos that ends with the arrival of something that a modern physicist would recognise as science.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "tentative question" with introductory phrases like "I was wondering..." or "Could it be that...?" to further soften the query and invite collaborative exploration of the topic.

Common error

Avoid framing every question as a "tentative question", especially in situations requiring directness. Overuse can project a lack of confidence, undermining your message and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tentative question" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "tentative" modifies the noun "question". As stated by Ludwig AI, it describes a question asked with uncertainty or caution, hinting the asker may not expect a response.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tentative question" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to convey uncertainty or a lack of assertiveness when posing a question. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes questions that are asked with hesitation or as a form of gentle inquiry. Examples from sources like The New York Times and The Guardian showcase its application across various contexts, from news reporting to academic discussions. While the phrase is generally appropriate, overuse can project a lack of confidence. Related phrases such as "hesitant inquiry" or "guarded question" can provide alternative ways to express similar ideas. Overall, "tentative question" serves as a useful tool for nuanced communication, especially when sensitivity and collaboration are paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hesitant inquiry

Replaces "question" with "inquiry" and "tentative" with "hesitant", both conveying a sense of uncertainty.

guarded question

Substitutes "tentative" with "guarded", suggesting a cautious or careful approach to asking the question.

cautious question

Similar to "guarded question", this uses "cautious" to highlight the careful nature of the question.

uncertain query

Replaces "question" with "query" and "tentative" with "uncertain", both suggesting a lack of confidence.

speculative question

Suggests the question is based on conjecture or guesswork, implying uncertainty.

preliminary question

Indicates the question is an initial exploration, often asked with some hesitancy.

probing question with reservation

Adds more context. Shows how the 'probing' nature of a question can be tempered with uncertainty.

hesitating question

Uses "hesitating" as a more active form to describe the uncertain manner in which the question is asked.

dubious question

Implies the question is asked with doubt or skepticism.

question posed with trepidation

Emphasizes the anxiety or fear associated with asking the question.

FAQs

How to use "tentative question" in a sentence?

A "tentative question" is used when you are unsure of the answer or don't want to sound overly assertive. For example, "Is it possible that the data is skewed?" is a "tentative question", reflecting uncertainty.

What can I say instead of "tentative question"?

You can use alternatives like "hesitant inquiry", "guarded question", or "uncertain query" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "tentative question" or "tentative inquiry"?

Both "tentative question" and "tentative inquiry" are grammatically correct, but "question" is more common in general usage. "Inquiry" may be preferred in more formal or academic contexts.

What's the difference between a "tentative question" and a "leading question"?

A "tentative question" expresses uncertainty, while a "leading question" prompts or encourages a desired answer. They serve different communicative purposes.