asked in puzzlement

USAGE SUMMARY

'asked in puzzlement' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone asked a question with confusion or curiosity. For example: "Why did you do that?" he asked in puzzlement.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"What's up?" he asked in puzzlement.

The New York Times

("He has an accent?" Larry King asked, in puzzlement, when the family appeared on his show in 2010).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

At times South Africans attending meetings in the British embassy asked in frustration, puzzlement and envy why such events could not take place elsewhere in their country.

The Economist

"Does the white man understand our custom about land?" Okonkwo asks a friend in puzzlement.

The New Yorker

U Sein Maung, a 50-year-old day laborer and father of four, squinted in puzzlement when asked about the pending visit.

The New York Times

But although Mr Meacher shakes his head in puzzlement when asked about the "Third Way", he has a sort of apple-cheeked, bespectacled innocence that seems to disarm even the most praetorian Blairite.In this section Fire, flood and the equity markets Cranes on the skyline, crashes on the horizon?

The Economist

"Who was that masked man?" That is not a question likely to resonate much with young people today, unless they are asking it in earnest puzzlement.

The New York Times

The justice shook his head in puzzlement.

The New York Times

The Palestinian family looks about in puzzlement.

The New York Times - Magazine

The gendarmes lookedup at him in puzzlement and expectation.

The New York Times - Books

"But you're not elephants," reply the Finnish border guards in puzzlement.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "asked in puzzlement" to clearly convey that a question was posed with a sense of confusion or uncertainty. This is especially effective in narrative writing to illustrate a character's state of mind.

Common error

While accurate, "asked in puzzlement" can become repetitive. Vary your descriptions of confusion by using synonyms like "inquired with confusion" or describing the speaker's facial expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "asked in puzzlement" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying the verb "asked." It describes the manner in which the question was posed, indicating a state of confusion or bewilderment on the part of the person asking. Ludwig confirms that it is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "asked in puzzlement" is a grammatically correct and usable way to describe the act of asking a question with a sense of confusion or uncertainty. While Ludwig identifies its usage as relatively rare, it is appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news and media. To prevent overuse, consider employing synonyms like "inquired with confusion" or describing the questioner's expression. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for written English and is used to indicate confusion or curiosity when posing a question.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inquired with confusion

Replaces "asked" with "inquired" and "puzzlement" with "confusion", emphasizing the bewildered nature of the question.

questioned with bewilderment

Uses "questioned" instead of "asked" and "bewilderment" to highlight a stronger sense of confusion.

queried in a perplexed manner

Replaces "asked" with "queried" and uses "perplexed manner" to specify the way the question was posed.

posed the question with uncertainty

Focuses on the uncertainty in the question rather than direct puzzlement.

asked with a puzzled expression

Shifts the focus to the non-verbal cue of a puzzled expression accompanying the question.

inquired with a sense of wonder

Implies a mix of curiosity and confusion in the question.

asked in a state of perplexity

Emphasizes the state of being perplexed during the asking of the question.

questioned with a furrowed brow

Combines the act of questioning with a physical manifestation of puzzlement.

asked with knitted eyebrows

Similar to above with a more physical description of puzzlement.

asked, showing incomprehension

Focuses on the display of lack of comprehension when asking.

FAQs

How can I use "asked in puzzlement" in a sentence?

You can use "asked in puzzlement" to describe how someone posed a question, indicating their confusion. For example, "What does this mean?" he asked in puzzlement.

What can I say instead of "asked in puzzlement"?

You can use alternatives like "inquired with confusion", "questioned with bewilderment", or "asked with a puzzled expression" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to explicitly state someone asked "in puzzlement"?

No, you can often imply puzzlement through context or by describing the person's tone or expression. For example, "He frowned. "Why would they do that?" he wondered."

What's the difference between "asked in puzzlement" and "asked with curiosity"?

"Asked in puzzlement" implies confusion or a lack of understanding, while "asked with curiosity" suggests a desire to learn or explore. The former stems from not knowing, the latter from wanting to know.