used to question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "used to question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a method or approach that is typically employed to inquire or seek information. Example: "The teacher used to question the students about their understanding of the material during class discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The emerging heterogeneity of the cancer genomic landscape has been used to question the usefulness of large-scale screenings, the main concern being that the discovery of rare mutations adds very little to the overall knowledge of cancer genetics.

BMC Biology

In releasing highly classified documents on the CIA interrogation program last week, President Obama declared that the techniques used to question captured terrorists "did not make us safer". This is patently false.

The Washington Post

The cup, a familiar item, is being used to question the nature of content.

The New York Times

Foreign duress could never be used to question the legitimacy of our constitution.

The New York Times

The system could also be used to question how a patient says he feels.

The New York Times

"Five years ago, I never used to question people," he said.

The New York Times

Of course, in the right hands these behaviors can be used to question or subvert stereotypes.

The New York Times - Arts

Soon afterward, the New York Civil Liberties Union learned that the debriefing form had been used to question antiwar protesters.

The New York Times

He welcomes the steady decline in the number of so-called port stops, used to question and detain travellers to determine whether they are involved in terrorism.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

He is used to questions regarding Armstrong by now.

The New York Times - Sports

Is Arnold Palmer here?" Saunders, who at 23 is playing in his first Open, is used to questions like that.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase "used to question", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being used as the basis for inquiry or doubt. Clarity prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice when using "used to question". Active voice often creates a more direct and impactful statement. For example, instead of "The data was used to question the hypothesis", try "Researchers used the data to question the hypothesis."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "used to question" functions as a verb phrase indicating the employment of something as a basis for inquiry, skepticism, or challenging established ideas. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it often introduces a critical perspective on a topic or finding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "used to question" is a versatile verb phrase employed to express doubt, initiate inquiry, or challenge the validity of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and widely used across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. To enhance clarity and impact, consider using the active voice and carefully selecting synonyms like "employed to challenge" or "utilized to probe". While generally neutral to formal, its register can vary depending on the context. By understanding its function, purpose, and usage patterns, you can effectively incorporate "used to question" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

employed to challenge

Replaces "used" with "employed" and "question" with "challenge", focusing on disputing something.

utilized to probe

Substitutes "used" with "utilized" and "question" with "probe", suggesting a deeper investigation.

applied to scrutinize

Changes "used" to "applied" and "question" to "scrutinize", emphasizing careful and critical examination.

drawn on to dispute

Replaces "used" with "drawn on" and "question" with "dispute", focusing on contesting the validity of something.

leveraged to examine

Substitutes "used" with "leveraged" and "question" with "examine", suggesting using something to inspect closely.

relied upon to challenge

Changes "used" to "relied upon" and "question" to "challenge", emphasizing dependence on something to dispute.

implemented to investigate

Replaces "used" with "implemented" and "question" with "investigate", focusing on a systematic inquiry.

adopted to challenge

Substitutes "used" with "adopted" and "question" with "challenge", suggesting a conscious choice to dispute.

invoked to examine

Changes "used" to "invoked" and "question" to "examine", suggesting calling upon something to inspect closely.

tapped to challenge

Replaces "used" with "tapped" and "question" with "challenge", focusing on using something as a resource to dispute.

FAQs

How can I use "used to question" in a sentence?

You can use "used to question" to indicate that something was employed to express doubt or inquire about something. For instance, "The findings were "used to question" the initial assumptions."

What's a formal alternative to "used to question"?

A more formal alternative could be "employed to challenge" or "utilized to probe". These phrases maintain a professional tone while conveying a similar meaning to ""used to question"".

Is it better to say "used to question" or "used for questioning"?

The choice depends on the sentence structure. "Used to question" emphasizes the action of questioning, while "used for questioning" describes the purpose. For example: "The tool was "used to question" witnesses" versus "The tool was used for the questioning of witnesses."

What does it mean when something is "used to question" an idea?

When something is ""used to question"" an idea, it means that it is being employed as a basis or reason to doubt, challenge, or inquire about that idea. It implies a critical evaluation.