the question what (the question of what)

"The question what" sounds unfinished because it joins a noun and a clause without a connector. The fix is simple: add a connector (of or is) or rewrite the clause as a direct question or verb phrase.

Below are clear patterns, plenty of copy-paste rewrites for work, school, and casual use, and a quick memory trick so you stop repeating the error.

Quick answer

Use one of three safe patterns: "the question of what + clause" (topic), "the question is what + clause" (statement), or rewrite as a direct question ("What...?") or verb phrase ("I wondered what...").

Noun-topic: "the question of what + clause" - formal, names the topic.
Statement: "the question is what + clause" - neutral, reports an issue.
Direct: "What + clause?" or "I wondered what..." - concise and conversational.

Core explanation: what's missing in "the question what"

"The question" is a noun phrase that needs a way to introduce the following content. Without a preposition or a linking verb, the sentence reads like two halves stuck together.

Fixes: add the preposition of, add the copula is, or turn the second half into a direct question or verb phrase.

Add of → the question of what + clause (names the topic).
Add is → the question is what + clause (states the issue).
Rewrite → What + clause? / I wondered what + clause (ask or rephrase).

Wrong: The question what caused the outage remained unanswered.
Right: The question of what caused the outage remained unanswered.
Right: The question is what caused the outage.
Right: What caused the outage?

Practical grammar, spacing, and hyphenation notes

Keep punctuation simple. Use a colon or dash only for emphasis: The question is this: what went wrong? Avoid commas between "question" and its connector - a comma doesn't replace of or is.

Spacing and hyphenation aren't the problem here - the missing connector is. Never hyphenate across the phrase (wrong: "the-question what").

Do not write: The question, what... (comma doesn't substitute for a connector).
Use a colon for emphasis: The question is: what went wrong?
Never hyphenate "the question" to reach the clause - insert a connector instead.

Wrong: The question, what is our strategy, is unresolved.
Right: The question of what our strategy should be is unresolved.
Right: The question is: what should our strategy be?

General wrong/right pairs you can copy

Use these templates as quick replacements in similar sentences.

Wrong: The question what to include on the agenda wasn't answered.
Right: The question of what to include on the agenda wasn't answered.
Wrong: The question what caused the symptoms needs research.
Right: The question of what caused the symptoms needs research.
Wrong: The question what matters most in the project remains open.
Right: The question of what matters most in the project remains open.
Wrong: She kept asking the question what the deadline was.
Right: She kept asking what the deadline was.
Wrong: The question what resources are required is unresolved.
Right: The question is what resources are required.
Wrong: The question what policies to change came up in the meeting.
Right: The question of what policies to change came up in the meeting.

Use corrections that explain the why

'Of' vs 'is' vs a direct question change tone and function. Choose the option that matches your intended meaning: name the topic (of), state the issue (is), or prompt action (question).

Grammar tools that show multiple rewrites and short explanations help you learn which connector fits each tone.

Work examples - ready-to-paste sentences for emails, reports, and slides

Prefer the noun phrase in formal documents, the copula in spoken summaries, and direct questions for slide titles or prompts.

Wrong: The question what our budget should be is on the agenda.
Right: The question of what our budget should be is on the agenda.
Rewrite: What should our budget be? (slide title)
Wrong: We need to address the question what metrics define success.
Right: We need to address the question of what metrics define success.
Right: The question is what metrics define success.
Wrong: The question what timeline applies to phase two is unresolved.
Right: The question of what timeline applies to phase two is unresolved.
Rewrite: What timeline should we set for phase two?

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually makes the right connector clear.

School examples - essays, lab reports, and discussion posts

In formal writing, prefer "the question of what..." for topics and "the question is..." for conclusions or summaries.

Wrong: The question what led to the Renaissance has many answers.
Right: The question of what led to the Renaissance has many answers.
Wrong: The question what variable affected the results remains unresolved.
Right: The question of what variable affected the results remains unresolved.
Wrong: The question what the author meant is central to our discussion.
Right: The question of what the author meant is central to our discussion.

Casual examples - texts, chats, and quick posts

In informal contexts, simple verbs and direct questions usually sound best.

Wrong: I had the question what to wear to the party.
Right: I wondered what to wear to the party.
Wrong: The question what time dinner is still up in the air.
Right: The question of what time dinner is still up in the air.
Rewrite: What time is dinner? (short, casual)
Wrong: The question what movie to watch never gets decided.
Right: We can never decide what movie to watch.

Rewrite help: three templates and quick checklist

Pick a template, plug in your clause, then read aloud to check tone and rhythm.

Template A (noun/topic): "The question of what [clause]" → formal reports, theses.
Template B (statement): "The question is what [clause]" → summaries and spoken reports.
Template C (direct/verb): "What [auxiliary + subject + verb]?" or "I wondered what [clause]" → casual and prompts.

Example A: The question of what evidence supports the claim remains open.
Example B: The question is what evidence supports the claim.
Example C: What evidence supports the claim?
Checklist: 1) Naming a topic? → use of. 2) Stating an issue? → use is. 3) Want a short prompt? → ask directly.

Similar mistakes and a memory trick

Same connector is often dropped after problem, issue, idea, or topic: e.g., "the problem how to fix it" → "the problem of how to fix it."

Memory trick: N-O-F → Noun → Of → Full clause. If a sentence feels like two halves, insert of or turn the second half into a question.

Related wrong forms: the problem how..., the issue why..., the idea where... - repair by adding of or rephrasing.
Quick test: replace "the question" with "this topic." If "This topic of what...?" sounds wrong, you need of or a rewrite.

Wrong: The issue why sales dropped needs investigation.
Right: The issue of why sales dropped needs investigation.
Wrong: The problem how we'll measure success is unsolved.
Right: The problem of how we'll measure success is unsolved.

FAQ

Is "the question what" grammatically incorrect?

It's awkward and usually ungrammatical as a standalone phrase because it lacks a connector. Use "the question of what...", "the question is what...", or a direct question like "What...?".

When should I use "the question of what" vs "the question is what"?

"The question of what" names a topical noun phrase (best for formal writing). "The question is what" declares or summarizes the issue (good for spoken reports and neutral prose).

Can I leave out "of" in casual speech?

Rather than dropping "of," prefer a simpler rewrite: "I wondered what..." or "What...?" Dropping "of" often still sounds stilted.

How do I fix "the question what to do next" quickly?

Three fast fixes: "the question of what to do next"; "the question is what to do next"; or "What should we do next?" Choose by tone.

Will grammar checkers catch this error?

Most checkers flag the construction and suggest adding "of" or rephrasing to "the question is..." or a direct-question alternative. Tools that offer multiple rewrites help you learn the difference.

Want to test a sentence quickly?

Paste your sentence into a grammar tool to see suggested rewrites and pick the tone you want. Choosing a checker that shows alternatives (formal, neutral, casual) helps you learn the pattern as you correct it.