although when asked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "although when asked" is not correct and may lead to confusion in written English.
It can be used when introducing a contrast or exception in response to a question, but it requires additional context to be clear. Example: "Although when asked about his opinion, he remained silent, his body language suggested otherwise."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Although, when asked about the subject on another occasion, she said: "Change is such an important part of life.

The Guardian - Music

He wore his beard in the Salafi style, with the mustache shaved, although, when asked about it, he said that he wasn't a Salafi.

The New Yorker

The Drawing Bar work will not be filtered, although when asked what would happen should "cartoon penises" appear on the big screen, Tate responded: "There will be a system to deal with them.

Independent

Ann Donovan, a spokeswoman for Cambridge, said Mr. Lammy was mistaken to claim the university had no black academics, although when asked for a precise figure she replied: "We don't know, because we have no way of knowing.

The New York Times

McDaniels gave no deadline for a resolution to the impasse, although when asked if he expected Cutler to be with the Broncos five weeks from now — after the N.F.L. draft — McDaniels said he did.

The New York Times - Sports

She later divorced, then married the agent Sam Cohn, although when asked how long she and Mr. Cohn were married -- they are now separated -- she answered, "I don't remember".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Al Attles has the ball; Wilt gave it to him a few years after the game, Ruklick said, although Attles, when asked about the ball in 1999, said, "All I know is, there's a ball somewhere, but I don't have it".

The New York Times - Sports

Carlsen has mostly refused to return fire - although once, when asked by a Norwegian journalist for his thoughts on Nakamura, he responded with one word: "udugelig", which roughly translates to "inept".

Huffington Post

He did not appear to be joking, although he paused when asked where he would play.

The New York Times - Sports

That will come later, although one boy, when asked by the principal Joanne Harper if he would like to play football, responded: "I can't do that in my suit!" He would not have thought twice about having a kick-about if he were dressed  in a school uniform, she said.

Independent

He is expected to explore the N.B.A. again, although Lawson was noncommittal when asked about it.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "although when asked" with a more concise and grammatically sound alternative like "although questioned" or "even when asked" to improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid stacking conjunctions unnecessarily. Phrases like "although when asked" can often be simplified for better readability. Aim for clarity by using simpler structures such as "even when asked".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "although when asked" functions as a complex conjunction introducing a clause that contrasts with the main statement. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not considered grammatically correct and can be improved for clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "although when asked" serves as a conjunction introducing a contrasting clause triggered by a question. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is not considered grammatically correct and simpler alternatives are preferable. While prevalent across News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, aiming for clarity is key, with alternatives like "although questioned" or "even when asked" often providing a more concise and grammatically sound option. This approach ensures enhanced readability and maintains the intended meaning, aligning with best practices in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even though questioned

Replaces "although when asked" with a more straightforward conjunction and verb.

yet when prompted

Offers a brief replacement using "yet".

despite being queried

Uses a prepositional phrase instead of a conjunction and a clause.

though in answer to the question

Provides a wordier alternative.

though upon questioning

Reorders the words and uses a more formal term for 'asked'.

however, when the question arose

Introduces a stronger contrast with 'however' and rephrases the asking.

while in response to the inquiry

Presents a formal alternative using 'inquiry'.

notwithstanding the query

Employs a formal tone with 'notwithstanding'.

in spite of the interrogation

Uses a stronger word choice such as 'interrogation'.

regardless of the solicitation

Introduces a more distant tone with 'solicitation'.

FAQs

Is "although when asked" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "although when asked" can sound awkward. Using alternatives such as "although questioned" or "even when asked" offers more grammatical clarity.

What can I say instead of "although when asked"?

You can use alternatives like "even though asked", "despite being asked", or "although questioned depending on the context".

How can I improve the flow of a sentence using "although when asked"?

To improve flow, restructure the sentence to avoid the combination. For example, instead of "Although when asked, he declined to comment", try "He declined to comment, although asked" or "Even when asked, he declined to comment".

Which is more concise: "although when asked" or "although questioned"?

""although questioned"" is more concise and often more grammatically sound than "although when asked". It reduces redundancy and maintains the intended meaning.