poorly formed question
[ˈpɔrli ˈfɔrmd ˈkwɛʃtʃən]
noun phrasepl: poorly formed questions
pergunta mal formulada
1. A question that is unclear, ambiguous, grammatically incorrect, or lacks sufficient context, making it difficult or impossible to answer accurately
The teacher returned the homework because the essay prompt was a poorly formed question that students couldn't understand.
A professora devolveu a lição de casa porque a pergunta da redação era uma pergunta mal formulada que os alunos não conseguiam entender.
2. In academic or technical contexts, a question that violates logical or rhetorical principles and therefore cannot be properly addressed
The survey included a poorly formed question that combined two different topics, skewing the results.
A pesquisa incluía uma pergunta mal formulada que combinava dois tópicos diferentes, distorcendo os resultados.
3. A question based on false premises or leading assumptions that presupposes information not yet established
That's a poorly formed question because it assumes facts that haven't been proven.
Essa é uma pergunta mal formulada porque pressupõe fatos que não foram comprovados.
This term is commonly used in educational settings in both Brazil and the USA when evaluating student comprehension, exam design, and academic discourse. In Brazilian universities and schools, teachers frequently critique 'perguntas mal formuladas' in student presentations and written work. In the USA, this phrase is standard in academic writing, testing methodology, and professional communication, reflecting the emphasis on clarity and logical argumentation in English-language discourse.
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