What Do You Call It When You Ask A Question But You Actually Know The Answer?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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When something is rhetorical that means it is made for style or effect, likewise a

rhetorical question

is a question that is asked for mere effect, rather than a question that needs to be answered. Questions like “Who knew?” or “Who’s better than me?” are often rhetorical.

What is a rhetorical question answer?

A rhetorical question is

a question asked to make a point, rather than get an answer

. If you have ever been late, someone might say: ‘What time do you call this? ‘ This person doesn’t want an answer to the question. They are making the point that you have arrived at an unacceptable time.

What it called when someone asks a question they know the answer to?

In the vernacular, this form of rhetorical question is called “

rhetorical affirmation”

. The certainty or obviousness of the answer to a question is expressed by asking another, often humorous, question for which the answer is equally obvious.

What question has no answer?


A rhetorical question

is one for which the questioner does not expect a direct answer: in many cases it may be intended to start a discourse, or as a means of displaying or emphasize the speaker’s or author’s opinion on a topic.

What do you call someone who avoids answering questions?


circumvent

: to avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing The Free Dictionary.

Are rhetorical questions rude?

Rhetorical questions are

often interpreted as an offensive linguistic attack

. It’s better to just recommend what do to next round instead of expecting someone to answer.

What is a rhetorical example?

Rhetoric is the ancient art of persuasion. It’s

a way of presenting and making your views convincing and attractive to your readers or audience

. … For example, they might say that a politician is “all rhetoric and no substance,” meaning the politician makes good speeches but doesn’t have good ideas.

What is rhetorical question and examples?

A rhetorical question is a question (such as “How could I be so stupid?”)

that’s asked merely for effect with no answer expected

. The answer may be obvious or immediately provided by the questioner. Also known as erotesis, erotema, interrogatio, questioner, and reversed polarity question (RPQ).

What is the stupidest question?

  • If animals could talk, which species would be the rudest of them all? …
  • Would you rather own a horse the size of a cat or a cat the size of a horse? …
  • Are there birds in Canada? …
  • Should I tell my parents I’m adopted? …
  • What happens if you paint your teeth white with nail polish?

What is the greatest question ever asked?

  • The Big Questions: What is reality? …
  • The Big Questions: What is life? …
  • The Big Questions: Do we have free will? …
  • The Big Questions: Is the universe deterministic? …
  • The Big Questions: What is consciousness? …
  • The Big Questions: Will we ever have a theory of everything?

What is the toughest question?

  • There are infinite black and white dots on a plane. …
  • Can you tell me the 15 errors in the code you just created? …
  • How can you drop two eggs the fewest amount of times, without them breaking? …
  • What has changed in this room since you walked in?

Do narcissists avoid answering questions?

Another reason narcissists don’t give answers to questions is

because they lack empathy

. They are incapable of building connection with people due to their lack of empathy. Non-narcissists ask questions as a way to connect, understand, and question someone else.

What can I say instead of answering a question?

Frequently Asked Questions About answer

Some common synonyms of answer are

rejoinder, reply, response, and retort

. While all these words mean “something spoken, written, or done in return,” answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

How do you avoid a question without lying?

  1. Enlist the help of a friend. …
  2. Restate—and reframe—the question. …
  3. Deflect with a joke. …
  4. Offer advice instead of an answer. …
  5. Deflect the question back to the asker with a compliment. …
  6. Turn the tables. …
  7. Address a related, but safer, personal topic.

Why do I hate rhetorical questions?

Rhetorical questions

undermine your team’s working relationships and reduce its ability to make high-quality decisions

. Rhetorical questions enable you to ask others to be accountable without being transparent about your own views, leading team members to feel insulted, defensive, or discounted.

What do you do when someone asks a rhetorical question?

Here is a good habit to develop: whenever you see a rhetorical question,

try – silently, to yourself – to give it an unobvious answer

. If you find a good one, surprise your interlocutor by answering the question. I remember a Peanuts cartoon from years ago that nicely illustrates the tactic.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.