well-formed question

[wel-ˈfȯrmd ˈkwes-chən]
nounpl: well-formed questions
pergunta bem formulada
1. A question that is clearly structured, logically coherent, and unambiguous, following proper grammatical and syntactic rules
A well-formed question in academic writing should have a clear subject, predicate, and avoid double negatives.
Uma pergunta bem formulada em redação acadêmica deve ter um sujeito claro, predicado e evitar duplas negações.
2. In formal logic and database systems, a question that conforms to the rules of the system and can be processed without errors
In SQL, a well-formed question must follow proper syntax to retrieve data from the database.
Em SQL, uma pergunta bem formulada deve seguir a sintaxe adequada para recuperar dados do banco de dados.
3. In linguistics and communication, a question that is intelligible and can elicit a meaningful response
The interviewer posed well-formed questions that encouraged detailed answers from the respondents.
O entrevistador fez perguntas bem formuladas que encorajaram respostas detalhadas dos entrevistados.
In both Brazilian and American academic traditions, the ability to formulate well-formed questions is considered a fundamental skill in critical thinking, research methodology, and effective communication. In Brazilian education, emphasis on pergunta bem formulada is particularly strong in philosophy, linguistics, and scientific inquiry courses. In the USA, this concept is central to the Socratic method and is widely taught in debate, journalism, and executive education programs.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
clear questionproperly structured questioncoherent questionwell-phrased questionintelligible question
Antonyms / Antônimos
poorly formed questionambiguous questionvague questionmalformed questionconfusing question

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pergunta bem formulada
Standard usage in educational and academic contexts
São Paulo
pergunta bem estruturada
Commonly used in business and formal communication settings
Rio de Janeiro
pergunta clara e bem feita
More conversational phrasing in educational contexts
Portugal
pergunta bem formulada
Similar usage to Brazilian Portuguese; formal academic contexts

Related Words

syntaxgrammarlogical coherenceclarityquestion formationinterrogative structure

Related Idioms & Phrases

ask the right question
frame a question properly
get straight to the point
ask for clarification
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