described asking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "described asking" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to someone who has been described in the act of asking, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "The report described asking for feedback from the participants."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Another described asking her male producer about their next project at work drinks.

The Guardian - Film

In the book, which was the second-best-selling title on France's Amazon.com Web site this morning, Mr. Humbert described asking his mother to kill him and her decision to do so.

The New York Times

In a series of interludes and asides, Mr. Trump described asking the House speaker, Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, to focus on the effort to replace the Affordable Care Act, then shifted to talking about a change to the tax system.

The New York Times

Another described asking his employer to schedule his "wildly fluctuating" 25 hours/week at the same time each day so could find a second job--and promptly had his weekly hours cut to 12.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In the introduction, Zandi describes asking - almost negotiating - with a man at the door to let her into the school where only men were allowed that day.

The Guardian

He describes asking a cop to shoot him, and beating his kids, and his youthful fury at sex, and his rage during the 1960s at hippies who put him in mind of his schoolyard tormentors.

The New York Times - Books

I describe asking where scarcities come from and who makes the decisions that create and maintain scarcities of resources for health as interrogating scarcity.

Health Policy and Planning

If you're interested in the kind of work the person describes, ask about other people, such as competitors, who might have further insights.

Forbes

The Sun described Ask.fm as a "suicide site" earlier this week: it could hardly then continue to send it a hefty advertising cheque each month.

Independent

Paradoxically, indeed, offering something is often equally well described as asking really hard for it.

The Guardian - Books

He was equally dismissive of research that he described as asking "why people are for or against military conflicts".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "described asking" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives such as "mentioned requesting" or "noted inquiring" to ensure grammatical correctness and readability.

Common error

Using "described asking" can lead to confusion. Instead of directly combining "described" with "asking", restructure the sentence to clearly indicate what was described and who was asking. For example, change "He described asking for help" to "He described how he asked for help".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "described asking" attempts to function as a verb phrase, where 'described' acts as the main verb and 'asking' as a gerund. However, Ludwig AI flags this construction as incorrect, suggesting it's grammatically awkward.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "described asking" might seem intuitive, it's generally considered grammatically awkward and incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase isn't standard and can lead to confusion. It appears infrequently across various sources, including News & Media, Science, and Academia, but its usage is not recommended for formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "mentioned requesting" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity. Using these alternatives ensures your writing is both grammatically sound and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Mentioned requesting

Replaces "described asking" with a more grammatically standard phrasing using "mentioned" instead of "described".

Noted inquiring

Substitutes "described asking" with "noted inquiring", providing a clearer and more formal tone.

Recounted questioning

Uses "recounted questioning" to offer a more narrative and descriptive alternative.

Related the inquiry

Employs "related the inquiry", focusing on the act of telling about the question.

Narrated the request

Replaces the original phrase with "narrated the request", highlighting the storytelling aspect.

Detailed the solicitation

Offers a more formal substitute using "detailed the solicitation" which is about asking something in official environment.

Explicated the query

Switches to "explicated the query", providing a more academic and explanatory tone.

Spoke of requesting

Uses "spoke of requesting" offering a simpler way to express the action of recounting a request.

Commented on the question

Replaces with "commented on the question", focusing on remarking or giving opinion about the question.

Remarked about asking

Rephrases to "remarked about asking", changing the emphasis to a spoken comment about the act.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to the phrase "described asking"?

You can use alternatives such as "mentioned requesting", "noted inquiring", or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

Why is "described asking" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "described asking" is awkward because "described" typically requires a more complete clause or a noun phrase, not just a gerund. It's better to clarify what was being described about the act of asking.

How can I use "described" correctly when referring to someone making a request?

Instead of "described asking", try "described the act of asking", "described how he asked", or use a different verb like "mentioned requesting" for improved clarity.

Is "described asking" ever acceptable in informal contexts?

While it might be understood in very informal speech, it's generally best to avoid "described asking" even in casual settings. Using clearer phrasing ensures your meaning is easily understood and avoids any potential confusion.