probe about

USAGE SUMMARY

"probe about" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to mean to ask questions about a certain topic to obtain information. For example: The police continued to probe about the suspect's whereabouts.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Probe about the assignment, how their role compared with others in the team, and how things turned out.

The New York Times

As a result of that probe, about 100 employees have been dismissed from those claims.

TechCrunch

The pair were already the subject of a club probe about their consortium's links with former owner Craig Whyte.

BBC

For a virtual colonoscopy, the doctor puts a small rectal probe about one to two inches inside the patient's body.

Forbes

The team's experiments, reported this month in Physical Review Letters, suggest that the technique could probe about 7 millimeters into the body.

Science Magazine

"The golden-coloured probe, about the size of a small car, was hurriedly assembled and is being carried by a rocket much smaller than American or Russian equivalents," the paper says.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Once bees arrived at a plant, they probed about 1.4 flowers, on average (s.e. = 0.12), and this did not differ significantly across subpopulations (Table  1c).

AoB PLANTS

The Juno probe weighs about 8,000 pounds (3,267 kilograms) and draws its energy from the sun.

Huffington Post

The detectable probes cover about 37% of the targeted virulence gene orthologs.

Plosone

In duplicate assessments, however, all probes performed about equally well, indicating that reproducibility is good.

BMC Cancer

It was not possible to derive more than three probes for about 2% of the genes.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "probe about", ensure that the context implies a detailed and inquisitive approach to uncovering information. It is suitable for situations where simple questioning is not sufficient.

Common error

Avoid using "probe about" in situations that require only basic information gathering. This phrase is best reserved for scenarios that demand a more in-depth investigation or series of questions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "probe about" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of inquiring deeply and thoroughly. It often implies a persistent effort to uncover hidden or less obvious information. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "probe about" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrasal verb that signifies a thorough and inquisitive approach to gaining information. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. Predominantly found in science and news media, this phrase suits situations where detailed questioning and investigation are essential. While alternatives like "inquire about" and "investigate" exist, "probe about" uniquely emphasizes persistence and depth in seeking answers. When using "probe about", ensure the context warrants a detailed inquiry, avoiding its misuse in superficial scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Inquire about

Focuses on asking questions to gain information, similar to probing.

Investigate

Implies a more formal and thorough examination or inquiry.

Delve into

Suggests a deeper, more thorough exploration of a topic.

Examine

Indicates a careful and detailed inspection or inquiry.

Explore

Implies a broad investigation to discover more about something.

Look into

Suggests a casual form of investigation or inquiry.

Ask questions about

Replaces "probe" with a more explicit and straightforward expression.

Check into

Implies investigating a specific issue or concern.

Enquire

Synonymous with inquire, suggesting a formal request for information.

Question

Emphasizes the act of asking specific questions to test or clarify.

FAQs

How can I use "probe about" in a sentence?

You can use "probe about" to describe asking detailed questions to uncover information, such as, "The investigators continued to probe about the suspect's alibi."

What's a good alternative to "probe about"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "inquire about", "investigate", or "delve into".

Is "probe about" formal or informal?

"Probe about" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is often found in more analytical or investigative settings such as journalism or research.

What does it mean to "probe about" something?

To "probe about" something means to inquire deeply and thoroughly, often asking detailed and persistent questions to uncover information that is not immediately apparent.