was asked about

USAGE SUMMARY

"was asked about" is correct and commonly used in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to a question or inquiry that was posed to someone. For example: She was asked about her opinion on the new policy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Dwight Freeney was asked about Gronkowski's ankle.

The New York Times

Jack Nicklaus was asked about Cabrera's menu.

The New York Times

Roddick was asked about his immediate plans.

The New York Times - Sports

He was asked about that Wednesday.

The New York Times

Again, he was asked about his status.

The New York Times - Sports

Boyle was asked about it, yet again.

The New York Times - Sports

Instead, he was asked about Lin.

The New York Times - Sports

I was asked about this recently….

The New Yorker

Francisco was asked about his fastball command.

The New York Times

Then he was asked about his family.

The New York Times

He was asked about his campaign.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was asked about", ensure the subject of the sentence is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The CEO was asked about the company's financial performance" is clearer than "It was asked about the financial performance".

Common error

Avoid using "was asked about" when an active construction is more direct and concise. Instead of "The issue was asked about by many reporters", consider "Many reporters asked about the issue".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was asked about" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject received questions or inquiries concerning a particular topic. This usage is confirmed by Ludwig, reflecting its grammatical correctness and widespread application.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was asked about" is a very common and grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that someone received questions or inquiries. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it's generally neutral in register, ensure the subject is clearly defined and consider whether an active construction might be more direct. When looking for alternative ways to convey a similar meaning, you can use phrases such as "was questioned regarding" or "faced inquiries about" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was questioned regarding

Replaces 'about' with 'regarding', maintaining formal tone.

was queried concerning

Uses 'queried' instead of 'asked', increasing formality, and 'concerning' instead of 'about'.

faced inquiries about

Replaces the passive voice construction with an active voice, emphasizing the subject facing the questions.

was interviewed regarding

Implies a more formal questioning process than 'asked'.

received questions on

Focuses on receiving questions, changing the structure slightly.

was canvassed concerning

Suggests a thorough and systematic questioning.

was examined regarding

Implies a detailed and careful questioning process.

had questions posed about

Emphasizes the act of posing questions, distancing the subject slightly.

was sounded out on

Indicates a cautious and indirect questioning to gauge someone's opinion.

underwent questioning regarding

Highlights the experience of being questioned, adding a sense of formality.

FAQs

How can I use "was asked about" in a sentence?

Use "was asked about" to describe a situation where someone received questions on a specific topic. For example, "The witness "was asked about" the events leading up to the incident".

What are some alternatives to "was asked about"?

Alternatives include "was questioned regarding", "was queried concerning", or "faced inquiries about" depending on the context and desired formality.

Is it better to use an active or passive voice with "was asked about"?

While "was asked about" is grammatically correct in the passive voice, an active construction can sometimes be more direct. Compare "The expert "was asked about" the data" versus "Reporters asked the expert about the data".

What's the difference between "was asked about" and "was informed about"?

"Was asked about" implies questioning or seeking information, while "was informed about" suggests receiving information. For example, a suspect "was asked about" the crime, but the public "was informed about" the investigation's progress.