ask along

USAGE SUMMARY

'ask along' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to invite someone to come with you to an event or to do something. For example, "I'm going to the store, do you want to come? Ask along if you'd like."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"Did the Age of Genius ever occur?" Schulz asks, and we, his readers, ask along with him.

The New Yorker

That's the question Republicans need to ask, along with: Is Washington spending your hard-earned money efficiently and effectively?

The Washington Post

What they ask – along with all businesses – is stability in the tax system so they can reasonably plan for the future".

Independent

He tried to give me directions to the church, but it got so confusing that I just pretended to understand and resolved to ask along the way.

The Guardian - Travel

Any further questions I might ask along these lines would just sound rude, and I have no wish to offend my patient host.

The Guardian - Opinion

We should be prepared to enjoy our good luck, and drop dead after a sufficient length of time – but ask, along the way, what we actually wish to do with our time.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It had us asking, along with planet Funk, who is a slave to the minimum wage?

The Guardian

Hopper was there for the third march, having been asked along by his friend Marlon Brando.

The Guardian - Arts

What follows are questions that I was often asked or that I wished I'd been asked, along with responses.

The New York Times - Food

Completing the line-up was George Galloway, who was presumably asked along in the hope that he would make fur fly.

The Guardian

Well-known designers offer sketches for the wedding dress they would have made for Kate, had they been asked, along with captions that explain their intentions.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ask along", ensure the context makes it clear that you are extending an invitation for someone to accompany you, either physically or metaphorically. For example, "I'm going to the conference; ask along any colleagues who might be interested."

Common error

Avoid using "ask along" when the intention is not to invite someone to join you, but rather to inquire from multiple sources simultaneously. For example, instead of saying "ask along multiple experts for their opinion," use "consult multiple experts" or "seek advice from several sources."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ask along" functions as a phrasal verb, specifically a transitive one, where "ask" is the verb and "along" is the particle. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to extend an invitation for someone to accompany you.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ask along" is a grammatically sound phrasal verb used to invite someone to join you in an activity or to accompany you. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not overly frequent, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media, with a tendency towards informal or neutral communication. When using this phrase, ensure clarity that you are extending an invitation. Consider related phrases like ""invite along"" or ""bring along"" for similar meanings. The key is to use it when the intent is to have someone accompany you, not simply to seek information from multiple sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

invite along

Directly suggests extending an invitation for someone to join.

ask to join

Explicitly requests someone's participation.

bring along

Implies physically bringing someone with you to a place or event.

invite to come

A formal way to extend an invitation.

ask to accompany

A formal request for someone to join you.

include

A more general term for making someone part of a group or activity.

ask them to participate

Focuses on inviting someone to take part in something specific.

extend an invitation

Highlights the act of inviting someone.

have them come with

Suggests accompaniment in a less direct manner.

request their presence

Very formal and polite way of inviting someone.

FAQs

How can I use "ask along" in a sentence?

Use "ask along" to invite someone to accompany you to an event or activity. For example, "I'm going to the movies; ask along your friends if you want."

What's a good alternative to "ask along"?

Alternatives to "ask along" include "invite along", "bring along", or "include", depending on the specific context and the nature of the invitation.

Is it correct to say "asked to along"?

No, the correct phrasing is "asked along". The word "to" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context. You can say "I was "asked along" to the party" not "I was asked to along to the party".

What does "ask along" imply about the invitation?

"Ask along" suggests a friendly, informal invitation for someone to join you, either in a physical journey or a shared activity. It implies a sense of camaraderie and shared experience.