questioning

USAGE SUMMARY

"questioning" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it as a verb (to express asking a question or seeking an answer) or as a noun (a request to ask a question). Example sentence: "The teacher's questioning of the student showed her commitment to learning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Perhaps not everyone's priority is having a 'beach body' (by the way, what is that?), and making somebody feel guilty for not prioritising it by questioning their personal choices is a step too far.

The Guardian

Then by the time Twitter's finished amplifying their shock by a factor of 10, it's easy to forget that some of the justices will have a more complex thought process than was on display in their questioning.

The Guardian

"I think it certainly came across in focus groups that women, and we did say this all the way through the campaign, Nicola said it a lot, not that they were necessarily more hostile but they were more questioning.

The Guardian

Critics of QAA are relishing the prospect of a review, questioning: what has QAA ever done for us?

The Guardian

As Swiss prosecutors began questioning 10 Fifa executive committee members over their role in the controversial vote for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Blatter vowed to ride out the storm in a familiar fashion ahead of Friday's presidential election.

The Guardian - Sport

Thankfully, excellent and skilled non-profit organisations like the Bay Area's Muslim Advocates offer free information and video tutorials educating all Americans – regardless of faith or race – about their fourth amendment rights and the limits of TSA questioning.

The Guardian - Opinion

Soon after, I got a message from a rooftopper in New York City telling me that the whole scene there was on lockdown after two German artists, Mischa Leinkauf and Matthias Wermke, put white flags on the Brooklyn Bridge and that the FBI were dragging urban explorers in for questioning.

The Guardian

When you lose the Ashes and when you lose like we've lost, there's always going to be people questioning my place and all that kind of stuff".

The Guardian - Sport

Brickbats questioning the need for any community-specific programmes.

The Guardian

Labour politicians have begun openly questioning Ed Miliband's future as Labour leader as he declared himself "deeply sorry" about the election result.

The Guardian

Republicans and nationalists may feel justified in questioning the need for the union flag to fly over Belfast's city hall in this "shared" post-agreement era.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "questioning" to introduce uncertainty or critical analysis, adding depth to your writing and encouraging readers to consider multiple perspectives.

Common error

Avoid using "questioning" simply as a synonym for "asking". "Questioning" implies a deeper level of scrutiny or doubt, while "asking" is a more neutral term. For instance, instead of "questioning for directions", use "asking for directions".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "questioning" is as a verb form (gerund or present participle), often functioning as a noun (verbal noun). It indicates the act of inquiring or expressing doubt. Ludwig AI confirms its versatile usage in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Opinion

5%

Lifestyle

3%

Books

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

As Ludwig AI highlights, "questioning" is a versatile term primarily functioning as a verb or verbal noun, denoting the act of inquiring or expressing doubt. It's commonly employed in news and media, as well as formal business contexts, serving purposes ranging from eliciting information to challenging assumptions. While generally neutral, its formality can vary. When using "questioning", remember to consider the context and audience to ensure the appropriate level of scrutiny and clarity in your communication. The related phrases and writing guidance provide valuable alternatives and error avoidance strategies for refined usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inquiring

Focuses more on the act of asking questions to gain information.

investigating

Implies a more formal or systematic examination of a situation.

interrogating

Suggests a more intense and formal questioning process, often in legal contexts.

examining

Indicates a careful and detailed inspection or analysis.

probing

Emphasizes a thorough and persistent investigation.

challenging

Highlights the act of disputing or contesting a statement or idea.

scrutinizing

Implies a critical and detailed examination.

disputing

Focuses on disagreeing with or contesting something.

doubting

Expresses uncertainty or disbelief.

pondering

Suggests a thoughtful and deliberate consideration.

FAQs

How to use "questioning" in a sentence?

"Questioning" can function as a verb or a noun. As a verb, it describes the act of asking questions, often with a sense of doubt or inquiry. As a noun, it refers to the act of asking questions or an instance of being questioned. Example: "The constant questioning irritated him."

What can I say instead of "questioning"?

You can use alternatives like "inquiring", "investigating", or "challenging" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "questioning the results" or "asking about the results"?

"Questioning the results" implies a critical examination or doubt about the validity of the results. "Asking about the results" is a more neutral inquiry for information.

What's the difference between "questioning" and "interrogating"?

"Questioning" is a general term for asking questions, while "interrogating" suggests a more formal, intensive, and sometimes aggressive questioning process, often used in law enforcement or investigative settings.