in what order

USAGE SUMMARY

"in what order" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in situations where you are asking someone to order a series of events, processes, or items. For example: "In what order should I arrange the ingredients for baking a cake?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And in what order?

The Economist

"And I am not sure in what order".

The New York Times - Arts

Whom should we draft, and in what order?

The New York Times

In what order was it supposed to come?

The Guardian - Music

The game is in what order and formation they'll fall.

The Guardian - Film

* Which issues will be dealt with in what order?

Harvard Business Review

Who decides what to reconstruct, where, when and in what order?

The Guardian

You can customize the icons, specifying which ones appear and in what order.

The New York Times - Tech

It almost doesn't matter in what order you read the book.

The Economist

Decide the schools to which you want to apply and in what order.

The Economist

Another chronic impediment in dealing with Iran is choreography: who does what, in what order?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in what order", ensure the context clearly defines the set of items or actions being sequenced. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clear communication.

Common error

Avoid using "in what order" when the elements being sequenced are not clearly defined or understood by the audience. Always provide sufficient context to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in what order" serves as an interrogative phrase, specifically used to inquire about the sequence or arrangement of actions, items, or events. As Ludwig AI states, it's correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

28%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in what order" is a grammatically correct and frequently used interrogative phrase that seeks information about the sequence or arrangement of items or actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English, appearing across diverse contexts such as news, science, and academia. The phrase holds a neutral register and is aimed at clarifying the optimal or intended arrangement for effective action or understanding. When using it, ensuring that the context clearly defines the set of items or actions being sequenced is crucial for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what sequence

Replaces "order" with "sequence", emphasizing a specific series of events.

in which sequence

Similar to "what sequence" but includes the preposition "in" for a slightly more formal tone.

what is the correct sequence

Adds "correct" to specify the right or intended order.

what arrangement

Substitutes "order" with "arrangement", highlighting the way elements are organized.

in which arrangement

Similar to "what arrangement" but with the addition of "in" for a more formal sentence structure.

what is the proper arrangement

Incorporates "proper" to emphasize the correct or suitable organization.

what priority

Focuses on the relative importance or precedence of items.

in which priority

Presents a more grammatically structured version of 'what priority'.

what comes first

Highlights the initial step or element in a series.

what is the first step

Specifies a sequence by asking for the very first action.

FAQs

How do I use "in what order" in a sentence?

Use "in what order" to ask about the sequence or arrangement of a set of items or actions. For example, "In what order should I complete these tasks?" or "In what order were the presidents elected?"

What's the difference between "in what order" and "what sequence"?

While both "in what order" and "what sequence" inquire about the arrangement of items, "in what order" is slightly more general. "What sequence" often implies a more rigid or predetermined arrangement.

What can I say instead of "in what order" when planning tasks?

When planning tasks, you can use alternatives like "what priority" or "what comes first" to emphasize the importance or starting point of the tasks.

Is it correct to say "order in what" instead of "in what order"?

No, the correct phrasing is "in what order". "Order in what" is not a standard or grammatically correct construction in English.