Begging the question, or petitio principii, in classical rhetoric, is a logical fallacy in which the argument is predicated on assumptions that have not themselves been proven. The phrase has never been synonymous with raising or prompting or inviting further questions. When the intention is to indicate that more questions have arisen, prefer less rhetorical phrases like raise the question, prompt the question, or invite the question; avoid misusing beg the question when no fallacy is intended.