tentative questions

USAGE SUMMARY

"tentative questions" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to questions asked in a careful, non-confrontational manner when exploring an uncertain topic. For example: The interviewer began by asking tentative questions about the candidate's past work experience.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 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

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

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 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

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

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

Business Research

Mr. Romney's tax returns were posted on his campaign's Web site on Tuesday morning after escalating pressure from the other Republican candidates, Democrats and even supporters, some of whom attributed his loss in South Carolina's Republican primary last weekend to his shifting and tentative responses to questions about his wealth, tax burden and overseas investments.

The New York Times

Scientists always provide tentative answers to questions.   12.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The first steps towards such a theory are established by Pfänder in his reflections on the act of ordering someone to do something and the logic of imperatives (1909), as well as by Daubert in his tentative theory of questions of 1911/12 (cf. Schuhmann/Smith 1987).

SEP

Our model is tentative, and many questions are still to be addressed.

Plosone

We will discuss four domains of quality criteria and provide a tentative list of questions to be considered by researchers when engaging in EE research.

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tentative questions" when you want to convey a sense of uncertainty or a lack of confidence in the questions being asked, especially when exploring a sensitive or complex topic.

Common error

Avoid using "tentative questions" in situations where direct and confident inquiries are required, as it can project a lack of authority or clarity. Instead, opt for more direct phrasing to maintain a strong and decisive tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tentative questions" functions as a noun phrase, where "tentative" modifies the noun "questions". It describes the nature of the questions being asked, indicating they are posed with some uncertainty or hesitation. Ludwig AI provides examples where it is used in news, science, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tentative questions" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe inquiries posed with uncertainty or caution. Ludwig AI analysis indicates it appears across various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions, and is best used when conveying a sense of exploration or approaching a sensitive topic with care. The phrase functions as a noun phrase and serves to express inquiries made with a degree of uncertainty. Alternatives like "preliminary inquiries" or "cautious questions" can be used to fine-tune the specific nuance. Avoid overusing the phrase in contexts requiring directness and assertiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uncertain questions

Directly replaces "tentative" with "uncertain", maintaining a similar meaning.

hesitant inquiries

Replaces "questions" with "inquiries" and "tentative" with "hesitant", emphasizing the uncertain nature of the questions.

preliminary inquiries

Uses "preliminary" to highlight that the questions are initial or exploratory.

cautious questions

Emphasizes the careful and guarded nature of the questions.

guarded questions

Similar to "cautious questions", highlighting the reluctance or carefulness in asking.

exploratory questions

Focuses on the investigatory aspect of the questions.

unconfirmed questions

Highlights the lack of certainty or validation behind the questions.

speculative questions

Indicates that the questions are based on conjecture or guesswork.

initial questions

Focuses on the fact that the questions are at the beginning of a process.

probing questions

Emphasizes the depth and intent to uncover information, albeit in a cautious manner.

FAQs

How can I use "tentative questions" in a sentence?

You can use "tentative questions" to describe inquiries made with uncertainty or hesitation. For example, "The researcher began by asking "tentative questions" about the participants' experiences."

What are some alternatives to "tentative questions"?

Alternatives to "tentative questions" include "preliminary inquiries", "cautious questions", or "exploratory questions", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "tentative questions"?

It's appropriate to use "tentative questions" when you want to express a degree of uncertainty or when you are approaching a sensitive topic carefully. This phrasing indicates that the questions are not assertive or demanding.

What's the difference between "tentative questions" and "probing questions"?

"Tentative questions" suggest uncertainty or a lack of confidence in the inquiry, while "probing questions" imply a deeper, more investigative approach aimed at uncovering specific information. The former is hesitant, the latter is purposeful.