this opens the question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this opens the question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when introducing a topic or issue that requires further discussion or inquiry. Example: "The recent findings in the study are surprising; this opens the question of how we should adjust our current theories."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"This opens the question of whether E.D.S. may be involved in a potentially undisclosed S.E.C. inquiry or investigation," Mr. Gavin said.

The New York Times

This opens the question, which density represents the initial density of the deposited droplets.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This opens the question of whether S100A7 might be involved in amyloidogenesis.

Plosone

This opens the question of defining what makes a 'high confidence' evidence.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

This opens the question of why model-fitting methods predict a threshold length from STR distributions.

Genome Biology and Evolution

This opens the question of what are the roles and consequences of the macroautophagic activity of senescent cells.

Cell Death and Disease

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

This observation opens the question whether this immunosuppressive signature can be reversed by anti-angiogenic treatments and whether re-activated tumour immunity could be part of the response to treatment.

British Journal of Cancer

However, he says, this discovery "opens the question" again.

Science Magazine

This hypothesis opens the question of ancestral chromosome 11 (as1) as a putative close relative of the sex chromosomes in mammals (Wang et al. 2011).

Genome Biology and Evolution

This opens the intriguing question of the role that this operon may play in vivo.

Plosone

The unexpected, discrete distribution of this protein during development opens the question of its role in neural morphogenesis.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this opens the question" to smoothly transition into a new line of inquiry or to highlight an unresolved aspect of a topic. It's effective for signaling a shift in focus or introducing a debate.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "this opens the question". Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement and prevent the writing from sounding repetitive. Use alternatives like "this raises the question" or "this prompts the question".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this opens the question" functions as a transitional phrase that introduces a point of inquiry or discussion following a statement or observation. Ludwig's examples confirm its role in setting up further exploration of a topic.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this opens the question" serves as a transitional phrase to introduce a new inquiry, primarily in neutral to formal contexts like science and news. Ludwig AI validates the phrase as grammatically sound and frequently used. While effective, it’s important to avoid overuse and consider alternatives like "this raises the question" for variety. Its main purpose is to signal that a specific issue warrants further consideration, facilitating a smooth transition into deeper discussion. This makes it a valuable tool in analytical and expository writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this raises the question

Uses "raises" instead of "opens", implying a similar act of bringing a question to attention.

this prompts the question

Replaces "opens" with "prompts", suggesting the preceding information directly causes the question to arise.

this leads to the question

Emphasizes a sequential connection where the question is a logical outcome.

this begs the question

Implies the question is unavoidable or obvious given the context, but should be used carefully due to its often misused meaning.

this gives rise to the question

Similar to "leads to", but with a stronger sense of emergence or origination of the question.

this invites the question

Suggests the situation makes the question appropriate or necessary to ask.

this presents the question

More formally introduces the question as something to be considered.

this poses the question

Similar to "presents", but implies a more direct and forceful introduction of the question.

this introduces the query

More formally introduces the query as something to be considered.

this brings up the issue

Shifts focus from a specific question to a broader issue or topic of concern.

FAQs

How can I use "this opens the question" in a sentence?

Use "this opens the question" to introduce a new line of inquiry or to point out an aspect of a topic that needs further discussion. For example, "The data reveals inconsistencies; this opens the question of whether the methodology was flawed."

What's a good alternative to "this opens the question"?

You can use alternatives like "this raises the question", "this prompts the question", or "this leads to the question" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "this opens the question" and "this begs the question"?

"This opens the question" introduces a new line of inquiry, while "this begs the question" implies that an argument's conclusion is assumed in its premise. Although "begs the question" is often misused to mean "raises the question", the more precise sense should be retained.

Is "this opens the question of" grammatically correct?

Yes, "this opens the question of" is grammatically correct. It's commonly used to introduce a specific issue or aspect that needs further investigation. For instance, "This opens the question of whether the current policies are effective."