was questioning about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was questioning about" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would typically be "was questioning" or "was asking about." Example: "She was questioning the validity of the research findings."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In Palin's interview with Oprah last week, it was questioning about Johnston, not Katie Couric, that made her nervous.

The New York Times

But along the way there was questioning about everything that was going on.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"The things they were questioning about Cam can't be defended, can't be verified".

The New York Times - Sports

Of course, some are questioning about the style of play, the assignment and number of players".

The New York Times

Not even the call to the police when suggesting that the seventeen-year-old belly dancer they were questioning about a theft should be dealt with gently, seeing as how she was the granddaughter of Hosni Mubarak, the President of Egypt?

The New Yorker

On October 14th, a Muslim cleric with suspected links to al-Qaeda, Abu Hamza al-Masri, said that the group had played a role in the Bali bombing and was planning to carry out further attacks.Investigators have formally detained four Indonesian men they had been questioning about the Bali attack.

The Economist

Additional research in larger groups of adolescents and adults with a large age range is needed, where the accelerometer is worn only during the same seven days as the AQuAA is questioning about.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

More recently, Britain's Irish community was questioning and being questioned about its loyalty to Britain.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was questioning everything about myself, from my sexual orientation, to my faith, to my identity.

Huffington Post

I was tempted to ask why he was questioning me now about the business, but thought better of it.

Huffington Post

I remember myself at twelve, when l still loved my dolls but was questioning what it was about them that I believed in.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using the construction "was questioning" or "was asking about" for grammatical correctness. For example, instead of "was questioning about the budget", use "was questioning the budget" or "was asking about the budget".

Common error

The phrase "questioning about" is often redundant because "questioning" already implies inquiry. Remove "about" to create a grammatically sound sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was questioning about" attempts to describe an action of inquiring or investigating. However, it is grammatically flawed, as highlighted by Ludwig AI, because the verb "questioning" typically doesn't require the preposition "about".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was questioning about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI flags it as non-standard English. It's better to use "was questioning" or "was asking about" instead. Although examples can be found, they are infrequent, and the phrase is best avoided in formal writing. Common contexts include news and media and science, but even there, more standard phrasing is preferred. Remember to omit the preposition "about" after "questioning" for grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was asking about

Uses a simpler and more direct verb to convey the act of seeking information.

was inquiring about

Replaces "questioning" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the act of asking for information.

was querying

Offers a slightly more formal synonym for "questioning".

was looking into

Emphasizes a casual investigation or review of the matter.

was investigating

Shifts the focus to a more formal and thorough examination of the subject.

was seeking information on

Replaces "questioning" with a phrase that emphasizes the goal of obtaining knowledge.

was probing into

Implies a more in-depth and potentially sensitive inquiry.

was examining

Focuses on a detailed inspection or review of the topic.

was interviewing about

Focuses on the process of asking questions to gather information from someone.

was skeptical about

Conveys a sense of doubt and questioning the validity of something.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "questioning" in a sentence?

The word "questioning" should be followed directly by the object of the inquiry, or you can use the phrase "asking about". For instance, use "questioning the decision" or "asking about the decision" instead of "questioning about the decision".

What can I say instead of "was questioning about"?

You can use alternatives like "was inquiring about", "was asking about", or "was investigating" depending on the context.

Is "questioning about" grammatically correct?

No, "questioning about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is usually just "questioning" or "asking about".

How does "questioning" differ from "asking about"?

"Questioning" implies a more formal or probing inquiry, while "asking about" is a more general and less assertive way of seeking information.