questioned to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "questioned to" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may lead to confusion regarding its intended meaning. Example: "The witness was questioned to provide clarity on the events."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The man, a former French soldier, is being questioned "to establish his credibility".

The New York Times

It allows travellers to be questioned to find out whether they appear to be terrorists.

The Guardian

GROUP THREE: WITNESSES Who should be questioned to support your case?

The New York Times

The backlash reinvigorated the campaign, and the town built a splendid new school, whose need is questioned to this day.

The New York Times

Newark's Rebound Is Questioned To be sure, Mayor James has to overcome his own chorus of skeptics.

The New York Times

One task of the inquisitor in a deposition is to confine the person being questioned to simple yes or no answers.

The New Yorker

But critics were quick to point out that it did not prompt those questioned to think about their local candidate, and was not weighted by past voting intention.

The Guardian

Ms Ridley was to have been driven from the capital Kabul, where she was being questioned, to the eastern city of Jalalabad, two hours from the border.

The Guardian

Ms Ridley was to have been driven from Kabul, where she was being questioned, to the eastern city of Jalalabad, two hours from the border.

The Guardian

"His crew and those who were helping him in Indonesia must be questioned to find out their motives for harassing a state institution".

The Guardian

This was a man who did not like to be questioned, to be told he was wrong, to be asked, even, just to listen.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision in your writing, substitute the phrase "questioned to" with grammatically sound alternatives such as "questioned about" or "asked to".

Common error

A common error is using "to" after "questioned". Instead, use prepositions like "about", "regarding", or "on" depending on the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "questioned to" primarily serves as a verb phrase, indicating the act of questioning someone. However, it's grammatically unconventional. Ludwig AI suggests that phrases like "questioned about" are more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

42%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "questioned to" appears in various contexts, it is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI explains, more appropriate alternatives include "questioned about", "asked to", or other similar constructions. The phrase's frequency across different sources, particularly news and media, might give the impression of acceptability, but grammatical correctness remains paramount. Therefore, always opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questioned about

Replaces 'to' with 'about' to correctly indicate the topic of questioning.

queried about

Uses 'queried' instead of 'questioned', formalizing the inquiry and changing the preposition to 'about'.

asked to

Substitutes 'questioned' with 'asked' for a more general inquiry.

interrogated to

Replaces 'questioned' with 'interrogated' to intensify the nature of the questioning.

interviewed to

Replaces 'questioned' with 'interviewed' implying a formal questioning process.

examined to

Replaces 'questioned' with 'examined' suggesting a detailed investigation.

investigated regarding

Replaces 'questioned' with 'investigated' to indicate an official inquiry and uses 'regarding' for precision.

probed about

Substitutes 'questioned' with 'probed' implying a thorough and deep inquiry, coupled with 'about'.

canvassed to

Replaces 'questioned' with 'canvassed' indicating a systematic surveying of opinions or information.

polled to

Replaces 'questioned' with 'polled' indicating a surveying of opinions or information and is generally used in statistic context.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "questioned" in a sentence?

Instead of "questioned to", use constructions like "questioned about", "questioned regarding", or "asked to". For example, "The witness was "questioned about" the events of that night".

What's a more formal way to say "questioned to"?

For a more formal tone, replace "questioned to" with terms like "interrogated regarding" or "investigated concerning". These alternatives suggest a more thorough and official inquiry.

Is "questioned to" grammatically correct?

No, "questioned to" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Better alternatives include ""questioned about"", "asked to", or other similar constructions.

What can I use instead of "questioned to" in formal writing?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "subjected to questioning", "interviewed regarding", or "examined concerning" for enhanced clarity and precision.