Pseudoquestions

A pseudoquestion is a statement phrased in the form of a question but which does not actually seek information. Instead, it is used to assert a point, express an opinion, or make a rhetorical statement. The speaker or writer already knows the answer, or believes the answer to be obvious or self-evident to the audience.

Pseudoquestions often employ a tone that implies the answer is beyond dispute. For example, "Isn't the sky blue?" is a pseudoquestion. The asker is not genuinely inquiring about the color of the sky but is using the question format to emphasize a universally accepted fact, perhaps in contrast to a mistaken belief. Another common example is, "Who wouldn't want a million dollars?" This rhetorical question implies that everyone would desire such a sum, making it a statement about universal desire rather than a genuine inquiry.

These linguistic devices can serve various rhetorical purposes. They can be used to engage the audience, to make an argument more persuasive by implying its self-evidence, or to express surprise or disbelief. In informal conversation, pseudoquestions can also be used to express frustration or to jokingly challenge a premise. The key characteristic is the absence of a genuine need for an answer; the answer is already presumed.