this settles the question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this settles the question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a matter has been resolved or clarified, leaving no further doubt or discussion needed. Example: "After reviewing all the evidence presented, I believe this settles the question of who is responsible for the incident."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"This settles the question," says one.

Science Magazine

We also characterize the meet-irreducible ideals as the kernels of bounded nest representations; this settles the question of whether the n-primitive and meet-irreducible ideals coincide.

Journal of Functional Analysis

To her this settles the question of responsibility for climate change.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I don't think this yet settles the question of how they are going to distance themselves from Bush, but still reclaim the tradition of American democracy promotion," said Tom Malinowski, Washington advocacy director for Human Rights Watch.

The New York Times

Since, by definition, an ANSP needs at least two nodes to perform non-trivial computations, this completely settles the question of designing complete ANSPs of minimal size.

Theoretical Computer Science

This settled the identifiability question for the non-linear problem in the real-analytic category.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

Garfield stated this would "settle the question whether the President is registering clerk of the Senate or the Executive of the United States".

Wikipedia

"Whilst Cameron and Osborne are dragging the Tory party down to defeat in the rest of Britain, not only have you won another term, but I suspect this has also settled the question of the next Tory leadership election," Livingstone told Johnson.

The Guardian

One way to clear up this uncertainty, and settle the question of Russia's culpability, would be for the Obama Administration to declassify what it knows not just about the fact that hacking took place but why, and with what aims.

The New Yorker

While this does not settle the question of external factors influencing students' incoming self-efficacy beliefs, i.e., what factors lead them to believe occupying one role over another is in the best interest of the team, it does offer some interesting directions for follow-up research when considering girls declining interest and involvement over time.

International Journal of STEM Education

Wong's attorneys cited the Look Tin Sing case, and the district judge agreed that in the absence of clear direction from the Supreme Court, this case definitively settled the question of citizenship for Wong and others like him as far as federal courts in the Ninth Circuit were concerned.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this settles the question" when you want to clearly indicate that a particular issue or debate has been resolved, and there is no further need for discussion or uncertainty. It's most effective when presenting conclusive evidence or a definitive decision.

Common error

Avoid using "this settles the question" if there's still room for reasonable doubt or further investigation. Ensure the evidence or decision is truly definitive, or you risk appearing overly assertive and potentially undermining your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this settles the question" functions as a declarative statement. It's used to indicate that a particular issue or inquiry has reached a definitive conclusion, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this settles the question" is a phrase used to indicate that an issue has been definitively resolved. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and provides examples from diverse sources like news, science, and encyclopedias. While typically neutral in register, it's important to use it judiciously, ensuring that the matter truly is settled. Alternatives include "this resolves the issue" or "this answers the query". Be mindful not to overstate conclusiveness to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this resolves the issue

Focuses more on resolving a problem than settling a question.

this answers the query

Directly addresses and answers a specific question.

this clarifies the matter

Emphasizes bringing clarity to a previously unclear situation.

this concludes the debate

Specifically refers to ending a discussion or argument.

this puts the matter to rest

Suggests a finality and cessation of concern.

this provides a definitive answer

Highlights the conclusiveness and authority of the answer.

this seals the decision

Implies an official or irreversible decision has been made.

this closes the case

Often used in legal or investigative contexts to indicate the end of an investigation.

this determines the outcome

Focuses on the determination of a result or consequence.

this establishes the truth

Emphasizes the discovery or confirmation of what is true.

FAQs

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

You can use "this settles the question" to indicate that a matter has been resolved or clarified. For example, "After reviewing all the evidence presented, this settles the question of who is responsible for the incident."

What phrases are similar to "this settles the question"?

Alternatives include "this resolves the issue", "this answers the query", or "this clarifies the matter depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "this settles the question"?

It's appropriate when presenting conclusive evidence or a definitive decision that leaves no further doubt or discussion needed.

Is it okay to use "this settles the question" in formal writing?

Yes, "this settles the question" can be used in formal writing, especially when presenting a final conclusion or resolution to a problem. However, ensure that the context warrants such a definitive statement.