be questioned whether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be questioned whether" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to express doubt or uncertainty about a particular issue, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "It may be questioned whether the new policy will be effective in reducing costs."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It can therefore be questioned whether the term specious is a happy one.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It could be questioned whether Heatherwick's design best serves the vision of the bridge.

The Guardian - Arts

It may be questioned whether a cut-off of 50 is appropriate in this setting.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

However, it must be questioned whether the benefits outweigh any negative health and environmental effects.

Environmental Sciences Europe

It may, however, be questioned whether the defense succeeds even in the limited project it undertakes.

SEP

Intuitively, it can be questioned whether best-worse single source single-relay selection [33] can be extended to this case.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Assuming that this is probably the future way of building houses, it can be questioned whether there are any alternatives.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

It can be questioned whether the relationship between the people of Feldheim and Energiequelle can really be called social capital.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

For a number of surface properties it may be questioned whether they are really the key parameters to investigate however.

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews

For this it must be questioned whether the stipulations in REACH and in the relevant guidance documents are sufficient to solve the explained problem of risk cycle.

Environmental Sciences Europe

This figure was given by the hospital administration but it has to be questioned whether sterilization services could be obtained at a lower rate from outside the hospital.

Health Economics Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While the phrase "be questioned whether" is frequently used, consider replacing it with clearer alternatives like "it may be doubted whether" or "it can be challenged whether" to improve readability and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid relying excessively on passive constructions such as "be questioned whether". Opt for active voice alternatives to create more direct and engaging sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be questioned whether" functions as a means of expressing doubt or uncertainty about a particular situation, statement, or idea. As Ludwig AI points out, its grammatical correctness is questionable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

69%

News & Media

12%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be questioned whether" is frequently encountered across various sources, including scientific publications and news outlets, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect. It serves to express doubt or uncertainty, but its awkward construction suggests that using clearer, more direct alternatives, such as "it may be doubted whether" or "it can be challenged whether", is advisable. The phrase sees most use in science-related contexts. Due to its grammatical ambiguity, aiming for clearer phrasing will enhance your written communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be questioning whether

Uses the continuous form of 'question', highlighting the ongoing nature of the doubt.

be challenged whether

Replaces 'questioned' with 'challenged', suggesting a formal or strong doubt.

be contested whether

Replaces 'questioned' with 'contested', suggesting a more active disagreement or challenge.

be raised whether

Indicates that a doubt or question is brought up for consideration.

be discussed whether

Substitutes 'questioned' with 'discussed', indicating an open conversation about the matter.

be doubts whether

Indicates existing uncertainties about something.

be concerned whether

Emphasizes worry or concern regarding the truth or outcome of a situation, instead of simply questioning it.

be asked whether

Replaces 'questioned' with 'asked', framing it as a direct inquiry.

ask themselves whether

Highlights internal deliberation or self-questioning regarding a topic.

wonder if

A more informal way to express doubt or curiosity.

FAQs

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

While frequently used, it's better to avoid "be questioned whether" in favor of grammatically sound alternatives like "it may be doubted whether" or "it can be challenged whether".

What can I say instead of "be questioned whether"?

You can use alternatives like "be contested whether", "be discussed whether", or "be challenged whether" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "be questioned whether" or "can it be questioned whether"?

While "be questioned whether" is commonly found, it's grammatically awkward. "Can it be questioned whether" is grammatically correct but may sound less formal.

Is "be questioned whether" formal or informal?

The phrase "be questioned whether" appears in both formal and informal contexts, but due to its awkwardness, it is advisable to choose a more direct and clearer alternative in formal writing.