he interrogated that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he interrogated that" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear what "that" refers to, making the phrase ambiguous and difficult to use effectively. Example: "He interrogated that suspect for hours, trying to extract the truth."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For instance, Ali Soufan, an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, testified that Guantánamo was the only place where he did not tell people he interrogated that they had a right not to give self-incriminating statements, the warning familiar from decades of police shows.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Though prosecutors refused to bring charges once they learned what Zuley and his team had done, Slahi – like the Illinois woman Zuley interrogated that night, and others back on the mainland – remains behind bars.

The Guardian

Did you interrogate that document?

The Guardian

As the welfare reform bill heads for the House of Lords next month it is worth pausing to interrogate that word "welfare".

The Guardian - Opinion

When soldiers detain someone, they are not permitted to interrogate that person in any great detail at the point of capture.

The New Yorker

But for those of us who want to tackle subjects beyond "me and my mates" - be it stockbrokers or shamans - we are now better placed than ever to drum up our own fee while we investigate and interrogate that world.

The Guardian

A study has tried to interrogate that notion and finds that, if there's anything in it, it's probably not quite in the way we thought.

BBC

Khrushchev related that he interrogated an SS defector, learning that the Germans intended an attack — a claim dismissed by his biographer, Taubman, as "almost certainly exaggerated".

Wikipedia

Wilson wrongly told a white man he interrogated in 2013 that the man did not have the right to film their encounter, and admitted to Halpern that he simply did not know the letter of the law Ferguson cops used to arrest people for "failure to comply" with their commands.

Vice

Interrogator #1 testified that he interrogated Mr. Khadr the day after he was discharged from the hospital prison.

Huffington Post

"Khazali was telling us when he was being interrogated that they were ready to lay down their arms," said a Western diplomat, referring to the group's founder.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he interrogated that", ensure the context clearly specifies what "that" refers to. Rephrasing to provide clarity often improves the sentence. Example: "He interrogated the suspect about that night's events."

Common error

Avoid using "he interrogated that" without a clear referent for "that". This can lead to ambiguity and confusion for the reader. Instead, specify what was interrogated, such as "he interrogated that document" or "he interrogated him about that issue."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he interrogated that" functions as a verb phrase where 'he' is the subject, 'interrogated' is the verb, and 'that' serves as a pronoun. However, this construction can sound awkward without a clear object, as pointed out by Ludwig AI. The clarity depends heavily on context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he interrogated that" refers to the action of someone questioning or examining something. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is grammatically questionable due to the unclear reference of "that", making it sound awkward without proper context. Usage tends to be neutral, spanning across news, wiki, and formal business contexts, although clarity is paramount. To improve writing, replace "he interrogated that" with more specific phrasing to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he questioned that

Direct replacement, focusing on the act of asking questions; semantic difference is almost null, as it replaces the verb with a synonym.

he examined that

Emphasizes scrutiny and detailed investigation; shifts from simple questioning to in-depth analysis.

he investigated that

Implies a formal inquiry or search for facts; suggests a more systematic approach than simple questioning.

he probed that

Suggests persistent and thorough questioning to uncover hidden information; adds an element of intensity.

he scrutinized that

Highlights careful and critical observation; emphasizes a detailed and analytical approach.

he inquired about that

Focuses on seeking information or clarification about a specific topic; semantic difference resides in specifying the topic of inquiry.

he cross-examined that

Implies a formal legal examination, often with the goal of challenging testimony; introduces a legal context.

he reviewed that

Suggests a formal assessment or evaluation; shifts the focus to a broader evaluation rather than direct questioning.

he analyzed that

Emphasizes a detailed examination for the purpose of interpretation or explanation; moves from direct questioning to analytical understanding.

he assessed that

Focuses on evaluating or judging the merit of something; shifts the action from questioning to judging.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he interrogated that" for clarity?

To improve clarity, replace "he interrogated that" with more specific phrasing. Options include "he questioned him about that", "he examined that document", or "he investigated that claim", depending on the context.

Is "he interrogated that" grammatically correct?

While instances exist, "he interrogated that" can sound awkward. It's often better to specify what was interrogated. For example, use "he interrogated him about that" or "he interrogated that information".

What does it mean to interrogate something?

To interrogate something means to examine it closely or critically. If referring to a person, this would be more aptly phrased as "he questioned him". If it's an object, one might say "he examined it".

What's the difference between "he interrogated that" and "he investigated that"?

"He interrogated that" suggests a direct questioning. "He investigated that", on the other hand, suggests a formal inquiry or search for facts, so it's less direct. Replace with "he investigated that".