questioned on why

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'questioned on why' is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The police officer was questioned on why he made the arrest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Although her condition means she cannot stand throughout a show, Ms McKearnen was later questioned on why she was in a disabled area when not a wheelchair user.

Independent

In past appearances, Mr. Cheney has been questioned on why the Bush administration did not continue the gulf war until Mr. Hussein was driven from power.

The New York Times

In a less dramatic part of his testimony in Suffolk County Criminal Court, Mr. White was questioned on why, instead of simply calling 911, he had grabbed a gun and confronted Daniel and the other four teenagers who showed up at the White home on Aug. 9, 2006, hurling threats and racial epithets.

The New York Times

Both James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, and General Keith Alexander, the director of the NSA, are expected to be questioned on why they appears not to have informed either the White House or congressional oversight committees about the spying activities directed at foreign leaders revealed over the past weeks.

The Guardian

However, he is likely to come under greater pressure over his handling of the Newsnight affair in the couple of months after the Savile allegations were first aired by ITV, and in particular will be questioned on why he relied for so long on the account of events provided by Newsnight's editor Peter Rippon, an account that had to be corrected at least three times.

The Guardian

Questioned on why he had joined the EDFF group, Mr Iwaszkiewicz said: "Obviously Mr Farage is famous and well known not only in the parliament, but also in Poland.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Given the level of controversy around this policy, some mortgage market analysts questioned on Wednesday why the White House had nominated someone who has identified so closely with it.

The New York Times

Someone questioned on Facebook why, as a former felon, he was teaching a gun class.

Los Angeles Times

To assess the role of various determinants that were presumed by the investigators to influence the decision not to participate, a 6-point Likert scale from 0 (no role) to 5 (major role) was used, as well as one open question on why the adolescent did decide not to participate in the study.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

On Thursday, in response to reporters' questions, Mr. Giuliani expanded on why he supported public financing.

The New York Times

Be prepared to answer questions on why you want to switch course or university.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "questioned on why", ensure the context clearly indicates who is doing the questioning and who is being questioned. For instance, "The suspect was questioned on why he was at the scene."

Common error

Avoid substituting "on" with other prepositions like "about" or "of" when using "questioned". The correct construction is "questioned on why".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "questioned on why" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a query about the reasons or motives behind a particular action, decision, or situation. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is a grammatically sound construction commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "questioned on why" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-registered prepositional phrase used to inquire about the reasons or motives behind an action or decision. As Ludwig AI states, it's a valid expression in written English. While "questioned on why" is not extremely frequent, its presence across reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian highlights its acceptability. Related phrases include "asked about the reasons why" and "inquired into the cause of", offering alternative ways to express similar inquiries. When using the phrase, ensure clarity about who is questioning and being questioned, and avoid substituting "on" with other prepositions. Overall, "questioned on why" is a useful tool for eliciting explanations and holding individuals or entities accountable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

asked about the reasons why

Focuses on directly asking about the reasons behind something.

sought clarification on the reason for

Emphasizes seeking a clearer understanding of the reason.

inquired into the cause of

More formal and emphasizes investigating the cause of something.

investigated the basis for

Implies a thorough examination of the foundation or support.

pressed for an explanation of

Implies persistent questioning to get a clear explanation.

challenged the rationale for

Suggests questioning the underlying logic or justification.

probed the thinking behind

Suggests exploring the thought process that led to something.

scrutinized the motives behind

Focuses on closely examining the intentions or purposes.

interrogated about the purpose of

Implies a formal and potentially intense questioning about the aim.

demanded justification for

Indicates a strong request for a valid reason or excuse.

FAQs

How to use "questioned on why" in a sentence?

You can use "questioned on why" to indicate that someone was asked for the reasons behind their actions or decisions. For instance, "The CEO was "questioned on why" the company's profits declined."

What can I say instead of "questioned on why"?

You can use alternatives like "asked about the reasons why", "inquired into the cause of", or "pressed for an explanation of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "questioned on why" or "questioned about why"?

"Questioned on why" and "questioned about why" are both acceptable, though ""questioned on why"" is often considered more direct when probing for the reasons behind something.

What's the difference between "questioned on why" and "asked why"?

"Questioned on why" suggests a more formal or potentially investigative inquiry, while "asked why" is a more general way of inquiring about reasons.