the man in question

USAGE SUMMARY

"the man in question" is a valid and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific man who is being discussed or who has been talked about earlier in the conversation or text. Example: The police have questioned a number of suspects but believe that the man in question is responsible for the robbery.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The man in question: Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

The New Yorker

The man in question was Mr Campbell.

The Guardian

Diego had already met the man in question.

The New Yorker

I looked down the street toward the man in question.

The New Yorker

The man in question has denied the allegations.

The Times

The man in question, of course, was Michael Winner.

The Guardian

The man in question, John R. Silber, feigned disappointment.

The New York Times

The man in question didn't call the attendant "disgusting".

The Guardian

The man in question is Lil Wayne, who's a rapper.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She pointed out that neither did the man in question, winning herself the pay rise.

Independent

The man in question, we were told, was playing pinball in the store.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the man in question" when you need to refer back to a specific man who has already been identified in the text or conversation. This avoids repetition of the man's name or a lengthy description.

Common error

Avoid using "the man in question" in simple or informal contexts where directly using the man's name or a pronoun would be more natural. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the man in question" functions as a determiner phrase used to refer back to a specific male individual who has been previously mentioned or is otherwise known within the context of the discussion. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the man in question" is a frequently used phrase to refer back to a specific male individual already identified in the context. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It functions as a determiner phrase that avoids repetition, maintains conciseness, and is suited for formal and neutral registers, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. Related phrases include "the individual in question" and "the aforementioned man". Best practice involves using it when referring back to someone already identified, while avoiding overuse in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the individual in question

Replaces "man" with the more neutral term "individual", making it suitable for referring to any person regardless of gender.

the person in question

Similar to "the individual in question", but uses the simpler word "person".

the aforementioned man

Uses "aforementioned" to explicitly indicate that the man was previously mentioned.

the man mentioned earlier

More directly states that the man was mentioned at an earlier point in the text or conversation.

the subject in question

Shifts the focus to the man as a subject of discussion or investigation.

that particular man

Emphasizes the specific man being referred to, often in contrast to others.

the relevant man

Highlights the man's relevance to the current topic or situation.

he in question

A more concise and slightly formal way to refer back to the man.

the fellow in question

Uses the informal term "fellow" to refer to the man.

the gentleman in question

Uses the more polite and formal term "gentleman" to refer to the man.

FAQs

How can I use "the man in question" in a sentence?

Use "the man in question" to refer back to a specific man who has already been mentioned or identified in the context. For example: "The police interviewed several witnesses, but they believe "the man in question" is still at large."

What are some alternatives to "the man in question"?

Alternatives include "the individual in question", "the person in question", "the aforementioned man", or simply using a pronoun like "he" if the context is clear.

Is it appropriate to use "the man in question" in formal writing?

Yes, "the man in question" is generally appropriate for formal writing, especially in news articles, legal documents, or academic papers where precise language is important.

Can I use "the man in question" to refer to someone I haven't explicitly named?

While possible if you are being vague for privacy or legal reasons, it's best to use "the man in question" only after you have already identified the person in some way. This ensures clarity and avoids confusion. Without previous reference, consider an alternative such as "a certain man".