How Do You Politely Decline An Answer Question?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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You can also

refuse to answer the question

, but be sure to be polite. “Say, ‘I appreciate that this is of interest but we don’t feel sharing the information is appropriate, especially at this time. But I’d be glad to answer other questions if you have them,’” says Sullivan. “Appreciate the interest but draw lines.”

How do you politely refuse to answer a question?

  1. I’d rather not say.
  2. I’d prefer not to talk about that.
  3. I’d rather not get into [this topic] at this event.
  4. I’d prefer not to discuss this right now.
  5. I’m sorry, that’s private.
  6. That’s a little too personal.
  7. That topic is too difficult to discuss at this moment.

How do you decline an answer?

  1. “I’m sorry, but it’s personal.”
  2. “I don’t know, sorry.”
  3. “I’m not able to answer that question, sorry.”
  4. “I’m not comfortable answering this question, sorry.”

How do you directly deflect a question?

  1. Acknowledge the question without answering it. …
  2. Ignore the question completely. …
  3. Question the question. …
  4. Attack the question, …
  5. Decline to answer. …
  6. Give an incomplete answer. …
  7. State or imply the question has already been answered. …
  8. Defer to the will of others.

Is it rude to not answer a question?

Yeah

it is rude to just stay silent

. However, it is not rude to verbally decline to answer, change the subject, explain if the question makes you uncomfortable or any number of things that don’t include answering. You don’t have to answer a question that you don’t want to. But just not answering is rude.

Is it bad manners to answer a question with a question?


It can be considered rude to answer a question with another question

because it can make a person feel like they are being dismissed or toyed with instead of receiving an honest answer. For example: Me: “Do you know what happened to the pie that I had put in the refrigerator yesterday?”

How do you say no to a question?

  1. I’m honoured but I can’t.
  2. I wish there were two of me. …
  3. Sorry, I’m booked into something else right now. …
  4. Sadly, I have something else. …
  5. No, thank you but it sounds lovely, so next time. …
  6. I’m not taking anything else right now.

How do you respond to uncomfortable questions?

  1. I’m so sorry, I don’t like talking about that.
  2. I’d rather not discuss that.
  3. I don’t want to get into that.
  4. I’d rather not discuss this now/here.
  5. Sorry is it okay if we change the subject?

What is it called when someone avoids a question?


Question dodging

is a rhetorical technique involving the intentional avoidance of answering a question. … This can lead the person questioned to be accused of “dodging the question”. In the context of political discourse, evasion is a technique of equivocation that is important for face management.

Is avoiding a question lying?

Liars and truth-tellers both have pauses in their speech, but

good liars avoid answering questions

, scientists say. DESPITE WHAT YOU MIGHT think, it is almost impossible to tell a liar from the way they talk, according a new study.

How do you ask a question without being offensive?

  1. Avoid asking rhetorical questions. A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question. …
  2. Ask friendly, clarifying questions. …
  3. Don’t set traps. …
  4. Ask open-ended questions. …
  5. Be grateful. …
  6. Avoid stress. …
  7. Avoid being too direct. …
  8. Silence is golden.

What do you call someone who answers a question with a question?

The word is

maieutics

, also known as the Socratic method, answering a question with a question, often to invoke more thought into the questioner, to answer the questions they ask themselves.

How do you respond to an intrusive question?

  1. Go with your gut. …
  2. Don’t be rude back. …
  3. Use “I” statements. …
  4. Find out more if appropriate. …
  5. Say how you feel about being asked or about giving the information. …
  6. Depersonalise your answer. …
  7. Express your feelings if you want to. …
  8. Move them on.

What is it called when you answer your own question?

Definition of

Hypophora


Hypophora

is a figure of speech in which a writer raises a question, and then immediately provides an answer to that question. Commonly, a question is asked in the first paragraph, and then the paragraph is used to answer the question.

How do you politely decline someone?

  1. I’m sorry, but we had to refuse your request to move to another department.
  2. I’m sorry but I can’t help you, I have something planned out for tomorrow.
  3. No, I’m afraid I can’t do that for you. …
  4. As I said, I’m afraid I can’t help you at the moment.

How do you politely decline a request?

  1. I wish I could make it work.
  2. Unfortunately, it’s not a good time.
  3. I wish there were two of me, but I can’t.
  4. Maybe another time.
  5. Sorry, I can’t.

How do you respectfully say no?

  1. I wish I could make it work.
  2. I wish I were able to.
  3. I’d rather not.
  4. I’m afraid I can’t.
  5. If only I could!
  6. No thanks, I won’t be able to make it.
  7. Not this time.
  8. Unfortunately, it’s not a good time.

What do you do when someone dodges your question?


Intervene immediately

. Don’t let the dodger steer the conversation in another direction. Respectfully interrupt the conversation the moment you spot the dodge and redirect it back to your question or concern.

How should you respond if you do not know the answer to a question or Cannot discuss?

Be confidently candid: If you don’t have an answer to a question, just

admit it in a matter-of-fact way without

feigning embarrassment, disappointment, or any other negative reaction however slight.

What is another word for not answering?

Find another word for

unanswered

. In this page you can discover 33 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for unanswered, like: un-answered, unchallenged, without reply, filed, tabled, vexed, unrequited, unresolved, unaddressed, unasked and unrefuted.

What are the 17 signs of lying?

  • They Repeat The Questions You Ask Them. …
  • They’re Giving Way Too Much Information. …
  • They’re Doing Weird Things With Their Eyes. …
  • They Can’t Remember The Details. …
  • Their Voice Is A Higher Pitch. …
  • They Pause Or Hesitate When They Don’t Need To. …
  • They Use Fewer Emotional Words. …
  • They’re Super Smooth.

How do you do open ended questions?

Open-ended questions begin in very specific ways. Open-ended questions begin with the following words: why, how, what, describe, tell me about…, or what do you think about… 3.

Use open-ended questions as follow ups for other questions

.

How do you say what you want without being rude?

  1. Be clear. Try to ask for what you want openly and in a straightforward manner, and state your feelings clearly without directly or indirectly demeaning the other person. …
  2. Make eye contact. …
  3. Keep your posture positive. …
  4. Do your homework. …
  5. Take time out. …
  6. Avoid accusing. …
  7. Keep your cool.

How do you ask a question to get the answer you want?

  1. Make your request reasonable. …
  2. Don’t pile on the reasons. …
  3. Tell yourself you’re worth it. …
  4. Write down the basis for your request before making it. …
  5. Take the other person’s needs into account.

What does it mean when someone always answers a question with a question?

So the person who answers the question with the question means that

he / she is convinced that he / she is superior or wiser than the other person

. We can say that two individuals who constantly ask each other questions are competing for wisdom or superiority. This is used as a tactic in job interviews.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.