being questioned

USAGE SUMMARY

"being questioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a participle phrase to indicate the action of asking questions. For example: "The witness was visibly nervous, being questioned by the lawyer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The shooter is being questioned.

The New York Times

The other is being questioned.

Independent

One person is being questioned.

The New York Times

Rotations are being questioned.

The Washington Post

They were being questioned.

The New York Times

Three men are being questioned by police.

The Guardian

But that is being questioned now".

The New York Times

Increasingly, its role is being questioned.

The Economist

Psycho had mentioned him while being questioned.

The New York Times

He is being questioned by police.

The New York Times

Nine other people are still being questioned.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "being questioned" to describe an ongoing process of asking someone questions, typically in a formal or investigative context. This phrase often implies that the questioning is official or part of a larger inquiry.

Common error

Avoid using "being questioned" to describe a past, completed event. Instead, use "was questioned" or "were questioned" for actions that have already finished. For example, prefer "He was questioned yesterday" over "He is being questioned yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being questioned" functions as a passive participle phrase, indicating that someone is receiving the action of questioning. Ludwig confirms this usage is grammatically sound, commonly employed to describe an ongoing state of interrogation or inquiry, as shown in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "being questioned" is a grammatically correct and very common passive participle phrase used to describe an ongoing process of interrogation or inquiry. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used in neutral contexts, particularly in news and media, to indicate that someone is currently undergoing questioning, often as part of an investigation. It's important to differentiate its ongoing nature from past actions (e.g., "was questioned"). While alternatives like "under interrogation" or "subject to inquiry" exist, "being questioned" provides a straightforward and widely understood way to describe this scenario. The phrase exhibits high usage consistency across various authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under interrogation

Focuses more specifically on the formal process of questioning, often by authorities.

subject to inquiry

Emphasizes the act of investigating or examining someone's actions or statements.

under investigation

Indicates a broader scope of scrutiny, not limited to direct questioning.

being interviewed

Suggests a more formal and structured questioning process, often for specific purposes.

facing scrutiny

Highlights the state of being closely examined or criticized, which may include questioning.

being examined

Focuses on a detailed and careful inspection, which can involve questioning.

giving testimony

Refers specifically to providing evidence or statements under oath.

answering queries

Implies responding to specific questions or inquiries, often in a less formal setting.

fielding questions

Suggests handling a series of questions, often in a public or press conference context.

being cross-examined

Indicates a more aggressive and challenging form of questioning, typically in a legal setting.

FAQs

How can I use "being questioned" in a sentence?

The phrase "being questioned" describes an ongoing process of questioning. For example, "The suspect is "being questioned" by the police" indicates that the questioning is currently happening.

What are some alternatives to "being questioned"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "under interrogation", "subject to inquiry", or "under investigation".

Is it correct to say "being questioned" or "to be questioned"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct but have slightly different meanings. "Being questioned" implies an ongoing action, while "to be questioned" suggests a future or potential action. For instance, "He is "being questioned" now" versus "He is scheduled to be questioned tomorrow."

What's the difference between "being questioned" and "questioned"?

"Being questioned" describes an ongoing process, while "questioned" refers to a completed action. "The witness is "being questioned"" means the questioning is currently happening. "The witness was questioned" means the questioning has already taken place.