at what did

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at what did" is not correct in written English.
It is not usable as it stands, as it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "At what did you arrive at the conclusion?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The football itself was fascinating enough to strike me dumb; and where, in the semifinal against Portugal, I had been driven to lyrical exclamation, I found this game too tense, too fast, too breathtaking to do more than gasp, as much as at what did not happen as at what did.

The New Yorker

Perhaps a good way to start is to have a stab at what did not happen here, to rule out the improbable and the hysterical.

The Guardian - Sport

Monique Bond, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Public Schools, said the district had looked at what did not work in other cities.

The New York Times

Before Google gets too excited about open wireless access, it should look a little more closely at what did in AOL.

The New York Times

"So we looked at: what did they give to the perceived leaders in Congress for taking action on global warming and what did they give to the people who are probably most likely to be in opposition to action?

The New Yorker

Why might the United States hold off on bombing attacks during the holy month of Ramadan? p. At his press briefing, at what did the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard B. Myers, hint? 3.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

So, at what does "The Hunter" aim?

The New Yorker

Winfrey said she was getting at, "What do you do for yourself?

Independent

"He had us at 'What do you think?'" Mr. Unanue said.

The New York Times

"With the purchase of series, we look at what does well on piracy sites," said Kelly Merryman.

BBC

Learn the real meaning of the Olympic rings at What do the Olympic rings represent?

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When forming questions, ensure the word order follows standard English grammar. Use "at what point did" or "at what time did" for clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "at what did" as it is grammatically incorrect. Always include a verb after "what" to form a proper question.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at what did" functions as an attempt to form an interrogative phrase, aiming to elicit specific information. However, it lacks grammatical correctness and requires restructuring to form a valid question.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at what did" appears in some contexts, it's crucial to recognize its grammatical incorrectness. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase lacks clarity and proper structure, making it unsuitable for formal writing. To form grammatically sound questions, consider alternatives such as "at what point did" or "at what time did", ensuring your writing is clear, correct and effective. When you re-structure it in the correct form, you will avoid misinterpretation and you are likely to sound more authoritative and confident.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at what point did

Replaces the general "what" with "point" to specify a time or stage.

at what time did

Substitutes "what" with "time" to inquire about a specific moment.

regarding what

Shifts the structure to use "regarding" to introduce the subject of the inquiry.

concerning what

Similar to "regarding what", but with a slightly more formal tone.

on what basis did

Specifies that the inquiry concerns the foundation or reason for something.

upon what did

Explores what relies or depends on something.

in relation to what

Frames the inquiry in terms of a connection or association.

about what thing did

Specifies a thing you are asking about

with what regard did

Focuses on the manner or consideration applied to something.

by what means did

Focuses on the process you're asking about

FAQs

What is the correct way to phrase a question starting with "at what"?

The correct way to phrase a question starting with "at what" depends on the context. You might use "at what point" to ask about a specific time or stage, or "at what age" to ask about when someone was a certain age.

What can I say instead of "at what did"?

Instead of "at what did", you can use alternatives like "at what point did", "at what time did", or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Which is correct, "at what did" or "at what point did"?

"At what point did" is the correct and grammatically sound option. "At what did" is considered incorrect in standard English.

Is "at what did" ever acceptable in writing?

While you may find instances of "at what did" in informal contexts, it is generally not acceptable in formal or academic writing. Strive for grammatical correctness and clarity by using alternatives like "at what time did".