requesting to know

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "requesting to know" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is generally used when someone is asking for more information about something. For example, "I am requesting to know the details of the plans for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Last month, he followed up with a letter to the S.E.C. requesting to know how it handled past referrals about SAC's trading activity.

The New York Times

One thing we have noticed that doesn't work with almost every VC is frequent emails requesting to know the status of "where they are at" in terms of making a decision.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

People can request to know the health risks linked to the state of the environment and applicants should be informed within one month of the request.

Independent

And while patients can request to know who has viewed their medical records as per the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), that provision currently doesn't apply when the request is related to treatment, payment and medical operations (administrative, not surgical).

Forbes

In addition, Professional women were also more likely to request to know their fetal sex than artisans, OR: 7.0 (95% CI OR = 1.47 333.2) (Table 4).

BMC Women's Health

This study showed that 23percentt of the women requested to know the gender of their unborn child during prenatal ultrasound scan.

BMC Women's Health

Women with three or less than three previous pregnancies were more likely to request to know fetal sex than those who have had more than three previous pregnancies, OR: 3.8 (95% CI = 1.52 – 9.44).

BMC Women's Health

The attachment is from Major Gen. Glen Shaffer, then the director for intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the secretary of defense, responding to Rummy's request to know the "unknowns" about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

The New York Times

But then some administrators in the host organization decided that his presence would be a security nightmare and his requests to know the dates when he was to attend the festival were met with stalling tactics.

The New York Times

At another point, God responds to Moses' request to know his name (that is, his nature) by telling him "ehi'eh asher ehi'eh" —"I will be what I will be".

The New York Times

After the incident, Tondo drafted a formal complaint, but he was advised by a contact in the military police not to submit it; if he filed a request to know whether he was under investigation, the prosecutors would be notified of his inquiry but would almost certainly not have to respond to it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Using "requesting to know" implies a slightly formal tone. Consider the audience and adjust your language accordingly. If writing for a more casual audience, consider using less formal alternatives such as "asking to learn" or "wanting to find out".

Common error

Avoid using "requesting to know" in informal settings where simpler phrases like "wanting to know" or "asking about" are more appropriate. Overly formal language can sound stilted or unnatural in casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "requesting to know" functions as an infinitive phrase acting as an adverbial modifier, indicating the purpose of the action. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a grammatically sound construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "requesting to know" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a formal inquiry for information. As affirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for professional and formal contexts. While it appears across diverse sources, the phrase is most frequently found in "News & Media", "Science", and "Formal & Business" contexts. For less formal settings, alternatives such as "wanting to know" or "asking to learn" may be more appropriate. The key takeaway is to tailor your language to match the intended audience and context, ensuring effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

asking to learn

Replaces "know" with "learn", focusing on the acquisition of knowledge.

inquiring to find out

Uses "inquiring" which is slightly more formal than "requesting" and emphasizes the act of discovering information.

seeking clarification on

Highlights the need for clarity on a specific topic.

wanting to ascertain

Employs "ascertain", suggesting a desire to confirm something definitively.

desiring to discover

Focuses on the element of discovery and exploration.

looking to understand

Emphasizes the intention of gaining comprehension.

wishing to be informed

Highlights the desire to receive information.

questioning to unveil

Suggests an active process of questioning to reveal hidden information.

aiming to determine

Implies a goal-oriented approach to finding information.

intending to clarify

Focuses on the intention to make something clearer.

FAQs

How can I use "requesting to know" in a sentence?

You can use "requesting to know" when formally asking for information. For example, "I am requesting to know the status of my application" or "The committee is requesting to know the details of the budget allocation."

What's a more informal way to say "requesting to know"?

Alternatives like "wanting to know", "asking to learn", or "inquiring about" are less formal and may be more suitable for casual conversations or less formal writing.

Is it grammatically correct to use "requesting to know"?

Yes, "requesting to know" is grammatically correct. The term "requesting" serves as a present participle modifying an implicit subject, and it is used to express the purpose or intention behind the request.

What is the difference between "requesting to know" and "demanding to know"?

"Requesting to know" implies a polite and formal inquiry for information. In contrast, "demanding to know" suggests a more forceful or insistent inquiry, often implying a sense of entitlement or urgency.