been questions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been questions" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be an attempt to convey that questions have existed or arisen, but it lacks proper grammatical structure. Example: "There have been questions about the project's timeline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

More often, there have been questions.

The New York Times - Sports

There have been questions about Davis's capabilities.

The New York Times - Sports

There had been questions about Mr. Barbour's health.

The New York Times

But there have long been questions about his mental condition.

The New York Times

There have also been questions raised about its impartiality.

The Economist

There have been questions raised about commercial companies buying data.

The Guardian

"There have always been questions about our team," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

He added: "There have been questions raised by the court, there have been questions raised by Mr. Friedman, by Mr. Jarecki and others.

The New York Times

There have been questions about what will happen if the E.C.B. finds banks with grave problems.

The New York Times

Mr. Jones added: "There have been questions such as do we think it's terrorism?

The New York Times

Since it started six years ago, there have been questions about its ability to survive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure the phrase includes a subject and auxiliary verb, such as "there have been" or "questions have been", to maintain grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the fragment ""been questions"" without a proper subject and auxiliary verb. It's grammatically incomplete and can confuse readers. Instead, use "there have been questions" or "questions have been raised".

Linguistic Context

The phrase ""been questions"" typically functions as an incomplete predicate. It suggests the existence or raising of inquiries but lacks the necessary grammatical structure to stand alone. As Ludwig AI indicates, it requires a subject and auxiliary verb to be grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase ""been questions"" appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in news and media, it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it lacks a proper subject and auxiliary verb. To ensure clarity and correctness, it's best to use alternatives such as "there have "been questions"" or "questions have been raised". Although the phrase is common, especially in news reporting, maintaining grammatical accuracy is crucial for effective communication. Always prioritize complete and grammatically sound expressions in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there have been questions

Adds "there have" to correct the grammatical structure, indicating existence or occurrence of questions.

questions have arisen

Replaces "been questions" with a more formal and grammatically sound expression.

questions have been raised

Uses the passive voice to emphasize that questions were brought up by someone.

inquiries have been made

Substitutes "questions" with "inquiries" for a more formal tone.

concerns have emerged

Focuses on the underlying concerns or issues that led to the questions.

doubts have surfaced

Highlights the element of uncertainty or skepticism.

issues have been identified

Emphasizes the problems or topics that require attention.

matters have been questioned

Formalizes the expression by using "matters" instead of "questions".

points have been queried

Replaces "questions" with "queries", suggesting a more detailed or specific inquiry.

areas have been examined

Shifts the focus to the process of investigation or scrutiny.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the idea of "been questions" in a sentence?

To use the idea of "been questions" correctly, phrase it as "there have "been questions"" or "questions have been raised" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

What's a more formal way to say there have "been questions"?

A more formal alternative would be to say "inquiries have been made" or "concerns have emerged". These alternatives provide a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

Is it ever correct to use ""been questions"" on its own?

No, ""been questions"" is not grammatically correct on its own. It requires a subject and auxiliary verb, such as "there have" or "questions have", to form a complete sentence.

What is the difference between saying "there have "been questions"" and "questions have been raised"?

"There have "been questions"" simply indicates the existence of questions. "Questions have been raised" implies that someone has actively brought up those questions. The latter suggests a more active inquiry.