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Is there a name for a request or opinion re-phrased into a question? Sentences like:

"Would it be a good idea to start cleaning up now?"

"Do you think we should complete this project in time?"

"Do you think we should follow basic hygenic standards in this team?"

Note: This question is similar to Suggestion phrased as a question , but not identical in my opinion, since the formulations in this question are (subjectively) more covert.

Alexander Torstling
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  • There is nothing in any of those sentences that implies an opinion on the part of the person asking the question. – Jason Bassford May 03 '19 at 18:04
  • @Jason Bassford : Precisely. That's why it's becoming a popular way of urging people on. Plausible deniability. – Alexander Torstling May 04 '19 at 11:24
  • In terms of pragmatics, they're [a subset of: interrogative-form] hedged suggestions. The hedge grows thinner with their negative counterparts: "Don't you think we should follow basic hygenic standards in this team?" Hedged requests often drop the question mark nowadays: "Can/Could you [just] close the window[?]"; adding 'please' probably makes one again blameable if things go wrong ("Could you just close the window, please[?]") – Edwin Ashworth Sep 30 '19 at 16:00
  • Thank you Edwin. "Suggestive question" is another term I found. – Alexander Torstling Oct 03 '19 at 04:51
  • I've heard of a counterfeit question that pretends to seek information but really makes a statement, dishonestly, through a strong hint. – Yosef Baskin Jan 28 '20 at 22:01

2 Answers2

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It's called a leading question although to the extent that some answers can be considered obvious, these are also partially rhetorical questions

Hitch-22
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  • Not all leading questions are geared to persuade a person to perform a certain physical action (or indeed to get an opinion across), though they are intended to provoke a desired response of some type. Have you any substantiating references? – Edwin Ashworth Sep 30 '19 at 16:04
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There might be several ways to categorize these questions.

Leading question

A leading question is a question which subtly prompts the respondent to answer in a particular way. Leading questions are generally undesirable as they result in false or slanted information. source

Request

You might find this question and answer enlightening:

This is not a rhetorical question; it is a request.

Pointed question

[a pointed question/look/remark]: a direct question, look etc that deliberately shows that you are annoyed, bored, or disapprove of something source

One could categorize the OP's example statements in this fashion:

"Would it be a good idea to start cleaning up now?" = Request

"Do you think we should complete this project in time?" = Leading question

"Do you think we should follow basic hygienic standards in this team?" = Pointed question

rajah9
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