If all the problems of question wording could be traced to a single source, their common origin would probably prove to be in taking too much for granted. The tendency to take things for granted is not easy to correct, simply because it is such a common characteristic of us all. It is a subtle fault, committed most, of course, when we are least aware of it. For this reason, some conscious safeguard is needed — self-discipline to stop and ask ourselves with each question, “Now, just what is being taken for granted here?”
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Words like “usually,” “generally,” and “most” are also helpful sometimes in avoiding the quibbling demand of, “What do you mean by that?”
