interrogate about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "interrogate about" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to questioning someone about a specific topic or issue, but "interrogate" typically implies a more formal or intense questioning process. Example: "The detective decided to interrogate about the suspect's whereabouts during the time of the crime."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

(Petraeus might also be a better person to interrogate about Benghazi than Susan Rice).

The New Yorker

The Sonoma County chapter president wore what looked like clean, pressed Levi's, but there was no one whom I felt eager to introduce to my mother or to interrogate about the status of the war with the Mongols.

The New Yorker

I didn't have to look far to find a person to interrogate about this phenomenon, though, since I recognized the very same obsession in myself.

Huffington Post

Our study is the first to identify a specific miRNA profile and to interrogate about the clinical significance of miRNA variations in sepsis patients.

Plosone

In the present study, we demonstrate that the dRRBS (MspI plus ApeKI) method is able to interrogate about 13.3% and 16.3% of the genome-wide CpGs using PE50 sequencing strategy with 40-220 bp and 40-300 bp inserts, respectively.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

They were interrogated about their ties to the Taliban.

The New York Times

The same thing happened when a mentally ill man was interrogated about the disappearance of Etan Patz.

The New York Times

And he was interrogated about the 30-year-old and asked if they had had sex.

The New York Times

Some were Iraqis and others were Syrian, and all were to be interrogated about Saddam.

The Guardian

A visitor is interrogated about news from home, mostly important things like baseball standings.

The New York Times - Science

She says she was also interrogated about her previous sexual history.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "question about" or "ask about" for a more natural and less confrontational tone, especially in everyday conversation.

Common error

Avoid using "interrogate about" in casual settings. It can sound overly formal or aggressive. Opt for simpler alternatives like "ask about" or "question about" to maintain a more relaxed tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "interrogate about" functions as a verb phrase used to describe the act of questioning someone, typically in a thorough or formal manner. Ludwig AI indicates that it can sound awkward.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "interrogate about" is grammatically acceptable but not the most common way to phrase a question, according to Ludwig AI. It is best used in more formal settings where a thorough and potentially intense questioning is implied. While "question about" or "ask about" are often better alternatives for everyday conversations, "interrogate about" can be appropriate in specific contexts. Based on Ludwig's examples, its usage appears mainly in news and scientific articles. Because of the low frequency and awkwardness pointed out, consider other possibilities to sound more natural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

question about

Replaces "interrogate" with the less formal "question", making the phrase sound less intense.

inquire about

A more formal alternative to "ask about", suitable for professional contexts.

ask about

A simpler and more common way to inquire about something.

investigate concerning

More formal and suggests a detailed inquiry or official examination.

probe into

Implies a deeper investigation, similar to interrogation but less direct.

cross-examine about

Suggests a formal and potentially adversarial questioning.

examine regarding

A formal phrase for a detailed inspection of a topic.

look into

Indicates an investigation, but less intense than interrogation.

grill regarding

More intense and implies aggressive questioning.

scrutinize with regard to

Suggests very careful and critical examination.

FAQs

What's a less formal way to say "interrogate about"?

You can use alternatives like "question about", "ask about", or "inquire about" depending on the context.

Is "interrogate about" grammatically correct?

While grammatically acceptable, "interrogate about" is not as common as other alternatives and can sound slightly awkward. Consider using more standard phrases like "questioned about" or "asked about".

When is it appropriate to use "interrogate about"?

Use "interrogate about" when you want to emphasize the intensity or formality of the questioning. In more casual contexts, simpler alternatives are preferable.

What's the difference between "interrogate about" and "question about"?

"Interrogate about" implies a more thorough and potentially aggressive questioning, while "question about" is a more neutral and general inquiry.