randomly asking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "randomly asking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are curious about something and you do not have a plan or a goal in mind when you are asking about it. For example: "Randomly asking, do you know where the nearest post office is?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I now get people knocking the door randomly, asking me to help them with their housing forms, or telling me their mother's benefits are being cut.

The Guardian

Hainmueller and Hiscox used what social scientists call a "cross-over" design for the research, randomly asking half the respondents first about either high-skilled or low-skilled immigrants, then reversing the questions two weeks later.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Crowdfunding isn't randomly asking for money.

Forbes

Tim McGraw even got me a customized black cowboy hat like the one he wears after randomly asking him where to get one at the CMT Awards one year.

Huffington Post

The 10 day reproducibility of the PD100Rint, EI was investigated by randomly asking 39 subjects to come again after one week for a second examination.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

To keep them honest, the system randomly asks users to visit Customs for validation.

The New York Times - Travel

'I can't believe you're asking these fucking questions.' I change the subject and randomly ask about auditions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The dancers will perform Trisha Brown's "Sololos," in which they must respond to a caller who randomly asks individual dancers to reverse their steps.

The New York Times

They randomly ask audience members to draw a dream from the box and read it aloud; everyone's job is then to find that dream in the planetarium.

The New York Times - Arts

Among her other tips: Don't ask an Asian student you don't know for help on your math homework or randomly ask a black student if he plays basketball.

The New York Times

For example, the system will randomly ask workers questions with known answers—say, what the URL for a given product is and depending on the quality of the response, it will assign more or less difficult work.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When conducting research or surveys, avoid "randomly asking" participants questions if you're aiming for statistically significant results. Structured questionnaires are more effective in these scenarios.

Common error

Avoid using "randomly asking" in professional or academic writing where precision and structured inquiry are expected. Opt for more formal terms like "conducting an exploratory survey" or "performing an unstructured interview."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "randomly asking" functions as a gerund phrase, often used to describe an action that is happening without a specific plan or intention. Ludwig examples show it modifying verbs to express the manner of questioning. This can indicate spontaneity or a lack of structured inquiry.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "randomly asking" describes the act of inquiring without a specific plan or intention. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, though it is more suited for informal contexts. While the phrase appears across various domains, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki, it remains relatively rare. The analysis suggests that in more formal or structured settings, alternatives like "conducting an exploratory survey" or "performing an unstructured interview" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Asking at random

This is a more direct synonym emphasizing lack of specific direction when asking.

Asking without purpose

Directly states the lack of a specific goal behind the question.

Casually inquiring

This phrase emphasizes a more relaxed and informal approach to asking.

Asking out of the blue

Indicates the question comes unexpectedly and without warning.

Unexpectedly questioning

Highlights the surprise element in the act of asking.

Offhandedly asking

Indicates a lack of seriousness or planning in the questioning.

Inadvertently asking

Suggests the asking is unintentional or without forethought.

Impulsively asking

Focuses on the spontaneous nature of the inquiry.

Unsolicited inquiry

This emphasizes the fact that the question wasn't requested.

Making a chance inquiry

Highlights the unplanned and opportunistic nature of the question.

FAQs

How can I use "randomly asking" in a sentence?

You can use "randomly asking" to describe asking questions without a specific plan or intention, such as, "Randomly asking, does anyone know the capital of Australia?"

What phrases are similar to "randomly asking"?

Similar phrases include "casually inquiring", "asking at random", or "making a chance inquiry". These alternatives emphasize the lack of a specific plan or goal in asking the question.

When is it appropriate to use "randomly asking"?

It is appropriate in informal settings when the inquiry is spontaneous and lacks a structured approach. Avoid using it in formal or academic contexts where systematic questioning is necessary.

Is there a more formal way to say "randomly asking"?

Yes, in formal contexts, you might use phrases like "conducting an unstructured interview", or "performing an exploratory survey" to convey a similar meaning with greater precision.