be questioned upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be questioned upon" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where someone is being asked about a specific topic or issue, but it is better to use more standard phrasing. Example: "The witness will be questioned upon the details of the incident during the trial."

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This may be questioned upon trial completion given the variability in an investigator's ability to reliably and uniformly assess the sediment at each site.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In mid-2013, the paternity of Summer (now 18 years old) is questioned upon the revelation that Nick declared himself her father despite the initial paternity test being corrupt.

Wikipedia

In his search for something whose existence cannot be questioned, Russell hit upon present experience and, in particular, upon sense data: one can question whether one is really seeing some physical object whether, for example, there is a desk before one but one cannot question that one is having visual impressions or sense data.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This hypothesis has been questioned recently based upon studies in MBL-deficient mice [ 3].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Upon being questioned he said he was looking for 33 West 42nd Street.

The New Yorker

Upon being questioned, however, as to what industry she was employed in the visitor admitted she did nothing but deliver lectures.

The New York Times

Upon being questioned by Chaffee, Cameron explained that the committee could only appoint a temporary chairman to the convention, and could not vote on the unit rule issue (which he said belonged to the Rules Committee).

Wikipedia

Two fault lines, gender and class, were exposed in the discussion over Nannygate: in the former, a double standard was seen wherein female appointees faced a greater risk of being questioned and disqualified based upon their childcare arrangements, while in the latter, affluent professional women who could afford live-in childcare arrangements were seen as trying to get away with an illegal act.

Wikipedia

Arriving in Britain just a few days ahead of the news about the attack on Fort Sumter, Yancey and his delegation met informally with British foreign secretary Lord John Russell on May 3 and May 9. Yancey emphasized the points from his instructions and denied, upon being questioned by Russell, that there was any intent to reopen the slave trade.

Wikipedia

The ITF's approach towards doping was questioned after Sharapova took it upon herself to announce her failed test at a press conference in Los Angeles.

The Guardian - Sport

Visitors from North America were being closely questioned upon arrival at airports in Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and the Philippines.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "be questioned upon" in formal writing; opt for clearer alternatives like "be asked about" or "be interrogated regarding" for improved readability.

Common error

Don't use "be questioned upon" when simpler phrasing conveys the same meaning. Overly complex sentence structures can confuse readers and weaken your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be questioned upon" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject receives the action of being questioned. It often appears in contexts where someone's actions or statements are being scrutinized or investigated. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase may sound awkward.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be questioned upon" is grammatically acceptable but considered rare and somewhat awkward in contemporary English. Ludwig AI suggests opting for clearer, more direct alternatives such as "be asked about" or "be interrogated regarding". While it appears in various contexts like science, news, and wiki sources, its low frequency suggests it's best reserved for situations where a formal or investigative tone is specifically desired. When writing, consider the readability and clarity of your message, and choose phrasing that is both accurate and accessible. Given the mixed source authority and the availability of simpler alternatives, using "be questioned upon" may not always be the optimal choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be asked about

Provides a simpler and more common way to express being questioned.

be interrogated about

Replaces "questioned upon" with a more direct synonym for questioning and focuses on the topic of the interrogation.

be interviewed about

Implies a structured conversation to gather information.

face questions about

Highlights the act of dealing with or answering questions.

be challenged on

Focuses on the aspect of being confronted with doubts or opposing arguments.

be examined regarding

Suggests a formal and thorough investigation through questioning.

be probed on

Suggests a deep and persistent questioning to uncover hidden information.

have doubts raised about

Shifts the focus to the doubts themselves being raised, rather than the act of questioning.

be investigated regarding

Focuses on a formal inquiry or examination.

be subjected to scrutiny

Emphasizes the intense and critical examination.

FAQs

What does "be questioned upon" mean?

The phrase "be questioned upon" means to be asked questions about something, typically in a formal or investigative setting. However, it's not the most common or natural phrasing; alternatives are usually preferred.

What are some alternatives to "be questioned upon"?

You can use alternatives like "be asked about", "be interrogated regarding", or "be challenged on" depending on the specific context.

Is "be questioned upon" grammatically correct?

While grammatically acceptable, "be questioned upon" is not commonly used and may sound awkward to native English speakers. It's generally better to use clearer and more direct phrasing.

How can I use "be questioned upon" in a sentence?

While not recommended, if you choose to use it, you might say: "The witness will be questioned upon the details of the incident during the trial." However, consider using ""be asked about"" or ""be interrogated regarding"" instead.