come under question

USAGE SUMMARY

"come under question" is grammatically correct and is commonly used in written English.
It is a phrase meaning to be considered or challenged. For example, "The financial records of the company came under question after the audit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The veracity of the incident has come under question.

The New Yorker

The value of the theory, however, has come under question.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But now even Mr. Powell's case has come under question.

The New York Times

The training of recruits has also come under question.

The New York Times

But the government's position has come under question lately.

The New York Times

NATO's commitment to the war has come under question in recent weeks.

The New York Times

Its equivalent in the world of derivatives, ISDAfix, has also come under question.

The Economist

McNamara's position will now come under question, but he can certainly be proud of the performance.

The Guardian - Sport

Rooney's position in the United team has come under question this season.

The Guardian - Sport

Lyon's methods have come under question amidst reports of player unrest at the AFL club.

The Guardian - Sport

In recent days, the fund industry's claim that it is above reproach has come under question.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come under question" when you want to express that something is being doubted, challenged, or scrutinized. It's suitable for formal and neutral contexts.

Common error

While grammatically sound, avoid using "come under question" in very informal settings; opt for simpler phrases like "being doubted" or "people are wondering about it" for better alignment with the tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come under question" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a subject is being doubted or challenged. Ludwig AI confirms that this is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "come under question" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as validated by Ludwig AI. It serves to indicate that something is being doubted, challenged, or undergoing scrutiny. Predominantly found in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts, its usage maintains a neutral register, suitable for professional communication. While versatile, it's best to avoid this phrase in very informal conversations, opting instead for simpler alternatives. Remember that while similar to "come under scrutiny", it conveys a stronger sense of doubt rather than just a detailed examination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be called into question

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the act of questioning, rather than the subject being questioned.

be subject to doubt

Focuses on the state of being doubted, highlighting uncertainty.

be open to debate

Suggests the issue is not settled and is still being discussed.

be under scrutiny

Indicates a close and critical examination is taking place.

be challenged

Directly implies that something is being disputed or contested.

be disputed

Implies an active disagreement or contestation.

have its validity questioned

Explicitly refers to the questioning of validity.

face skepticism

Highlights the presence of doubt and disbelief.

arouse suspicion

Suggests the situation causes people to be suspicious.

become controversial

Indicates the subject has become a matter of public disagreement.

FAQs

How can I use "come under question" in a sentence?

You can use "come under question" to indicate that something is being doubted or challenged. For instance, "The company's financial practices have "come under question" recently."

What's a formal alternative to "come under question"?

A more formal alternative would be "be called into question", which emphasizes the act of questioning in a more formal tone.

What can I say instead of "come under question" in a less formal context?

In less formal contexts, you can use phrases like "be doubted", "be challenged", or "be scrutinized", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "come under question" and "come under scrutiny"?

While similar, ""come under question"" generally implies doubt or challenge, whereas "come under scrutiny" suggests a more detailed and critical examination is taking place.