Wait, what?” is first on my list of essential questions because it is an effective way of asking for clarification, and clarification is the first st… - James E. Ryan

While the question “I wonder if?” is a question worth asking on its own, it is also closely connected to the question “I wonder why?” Once you start asking “I wonder why?” and especially if you get an unsatisfying answer, you are inevitably going to ask “I wonder if things could be different?” Put another way, to ask “I wonder why?” about the present naturally raises the question “I wonder if?” about the future.

But I think it’s crucial because it reminds you (and others) to slow down to make sure you truly understand. Too often we fail to pause for clarification, thinking that we understand something before we do. In doing so, we miss the opportunity to grasp the full significance of an idea, an assertion, or an event. Asking “Wait, what?” is a good way to capture, rather than miss, those opportunities

Too often we fail to pause for clarification, thinking that we understand something before we do. In doing so, we miss the opportunity to grasp the full significance of an idea, an assertion, or an event. Asking “Wait, what?” is a good way to capture, rather than miss, those opportunities.