Q: What is a frequently asked question?

A: Frequently asked questions, or F.A.Q.s, are lists of questions and corresponding answers intended to answer common queries about a particular subject.

Q: Why do I often find my question missing from the F.A.Q.s?

A: By their very definition, lists of frequently asked questions strive to include all questions that are frequently asked. If you don’t find your particular question, the most likely reason is that it isn’t frequently asked.

Q: I find this difficult to believe. I mean, I’ve put the question several times to friends and family members before consulting the F.A.Q. Doesn’t asking a question several times constitute a frequently asked question?

A: “Frequently asked” actually means “frequently asked by thousands of users,” not “frequently asked by one user.” Creators of these lists use highly scientific means to determine which questions are truly—and universally—frequently asked. If you can’t find your question, chances are that the problem isn’t the F.A.Q.s, it’s you.