requested to describe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "requested to describe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking someone to provide a description or explanation of something, often in formal or professional contexts. Example: "The committee requested to describe the findings of the research in detail during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

When there was doubt as to whether the injury included neck trauma, the patient was requested to describe the traumatic injury to the head in greater detail, in order to exclude an acceleration/deceleration trauma.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Thus, subjects were merely requested to describe the deceiver's intention and the victim's ignorance.

Plosone

Only persons who were employed, self-employed, or temporarily sick-listed were requested to describe their work conditions.

Diabetes Care

For example, those who reported that they had to change their activity program or remain indoors due to TD were requested to describe which activities were cancelled.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The respondents were asked to state whether they were experiencing any ongoing pain since discharge from the ICU (only new pains that they did not have before their ICU admission), and if so, they were requested to describe the body parts affected (either in words or pictorially on the body chart).

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Merely observe the visitors as they exit: their knees are weak, their jaws below sea level, and requests to describe what they have just seen are often met with a stammer.

The New York Times

Chief Warrant Officer Denise Barnes, who was in charge of the brig for the last four months of Private Manning's time there, said that the soldier declined her many requests to describe his emotional state in detail.

The New York Times

That evaluation was firstly based on the results of a questionnaire which was distributed to the main European railway operators with the request to describe the testing procedures and equipment applied in their maintenance facilities.

International Journal of Fatigue

Each interview began with a request to describe the family's cancer journey, including a subjective description of their diagnostic experience and time to diagnosis.

British Journal of Cancer

Interviews began with a general request to describe the experience of caring for the newborn infant and how decisions about care provided to the newborn are made.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

An assemblyman who requested anonymity to describe private discussions said it appeared that there were more members in favor of legalizing mixed martial arts than against it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "requested to describe", ensure the context clearly indicates what needs to be described. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid excessive passive voice constructions when using "requested to describe". Opt for active voice when possible to make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "The participants were requested to describe…", consider "The survey asked participants to describe…".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "requested to describe" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically part of a passive construction where someone is asked to give an account or explanation. Ludwig AI highlights its usage in contexts requiring detailed descriptions, as evidenced in scientific and news articles.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "requested to describe" is a grammatically sound and usable English expression employed to ask someone for a description, often within formal or professional environments. Ludwig AI indicates its suitability for contexts where detailed accounts are needed, frequently appearing in scientific and journalistic content. While not exceedingly common, it presents a clear and formal alternative to simpler phrasings like "asked to explain". Consider using it when a degree of formality and precision is desired, ensuring that the context clearly identifies the subject needing description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

asked to explain

Focuses more on providing an explanation rather than a detailed description.

invited to detail

Implies a more formal or official request for a detailed account.

enjoined to recount

This suggests a formal or legal command to narrate or describe.

called upon to illustrate

Shifts the focus to providing examples or illustrations rather than a general description.

tasked with delineating

Emphasizes the assignment or responsibility of outlining or defining something precisely.

instructed to characterize

More formal, implying a directive to define or describe the characteristics of something.

required to elaborate

This suggests a necessity to provide more details about something already mentioned.

directed to portray

Suggests a guided or supervised representation, potentially with artistic nuances.

authorized to depict

Implies a formal permission or right to represent or describe something.

prompted to specify

This suggests an encouragement or cue to provide particular details or conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "requested to describe" in a sentence?

You can use "requested to describe" when you want to express that someone was asked to provide a description of something. For example, "The witnesses were requested to describe the suspect".

What are some alternatives to "requested to describe"?

Alternatives include "asked to explain", "invited to detail", or "required to elaborate" depending on the level of formality and detail needed.

Is it better to use "asked to describe" or "requested to describe"?

"Requested to describe" is more formal than "asked to describe". Use "requested" in professional or formal contexts.

What's the difference between "requested to describe" and "required to describe"?

"Required to describe" implies an obligation or necessity, while "requested to describe" is a more polite way of asking for a description. The former suggests there are consequences for not providing the description.