while questioning

USAGE SUMMARY

"while questioning" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are introducing a phrase that describes an action that was taking place at the same time as questioning someone or something. For example: The police officer continued to investigate the scene while questioning witnesses.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Between Two Windows by Oli Hazzard (Carcanet) is impressive in its formal assuredness and confidence of tone, all the while questioning what poetry is and does.

The Guardian - Books

One can understand Ms. Mentzer's sympathies while questioning her judgment.

The New York Times - Arts

He gives brief character sketchs of his pupils while questioning them on a passage from Macbeth.

The New Yorker

Mr. Streeter emphasized that point while questioning Mr. Jarrell, though the professor often disagreed with the prosecutor on the details.

The New York Times

British police became aware of the plot in the mid-1970s while questioning a man over an art theft.

Independent

There are Catholics who respect the general point of the teaching while questioning its application to every individual case.

The New York Times

While questioning alleged terror group members plainly had value to Western intelligence, the cooperation went beyond that.

The New York Times

He said that while questioning Mr. Bakhru, he had voiced sympathy about the difficulty of the test.

The New York Times

But Lepage's production and Michel Gauthier's design, while questioning eastern values, also have a consummate delicacy and cinematic fluency.

The Guardian

Similarly, Mr. Aziz has complained that while questioning a university professor, the inspectors asked if his salary was sufficient.

The New York Times

And the longtime documentary maker Sol Landau, while questioning her independence, nevertheless said: "I can't say anything bad about her.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "while questioning", ensure the subject of the questioning is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify who or what is being questioned: "The committee reviewed the data while questioning its reliability".

Common error

Avoid placing "while questioning" in a way that creates a dangling modifier. For example, instead of saying "While questioning the witness, the evidence was reviewed", clarify it as "While the detective was questioning the witness, he reviewed the evidence" to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while questioning" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main verb by indicating when another action is taking place. It introduces a subordinate clause that describes an action happening simultaneously with the action in the main clause. Ludwig AI provides various examples to support this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

17%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "while questioning" serves as a versatile adverbial phrase, commonly used to indicate simultaneous actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and wide applicability make it suitable for various contexts, particularly in news reporting and analytical discussions. The phrase functions effectively to provide temporal context, and while alternatives like "during questioning" exist, "while questioning" emphasizes simultaneity. Understanding its usage patterns, as revealed by Ludwig, can help writers use it accurately and effectively. Its neutral register further enhances its usability across diverse forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during questioning

A more concise version, omitting the conjunction "while".

whilst interrogating

Uses the synonym "interrogating" and the more formal "whilst" for "while".

while examining

Substitutes "questioning" with "examining", implying a detailed inspection alongside the questioning.

in the process of questioning

Emphasizes the "process" of questioning, making it more descriptive.

during the inquiry

Replaces "questioning" with a more formal term "inquiry" and uses "during" instead of "while".

inquiring into

Uses "inquiring into" to replace questioning, suggesting a formal investigation.

during the examination

Replaces "questioning" with "examination", implying a more formal or structured inquiry.

as they investigated

Shifts the focus to "investigation" and uses "as" to indicate simultaneity.

as they interviewed

Replaces "questioning" with "interviewed", focusing on a structured conversation.

as they probed

Uses "probed" to suggest a deeper, more thorough form of questioning.

FAQs

How can I use "while questioning" in a sentence?

Use "while questioning" to show simultaneous actions, like "The lawyer reviewed the documents "while questioning" the witness."

What are some alternatives to using "while questioning"?

You can use alternatives such as "during the inquiry", "as they investigated", or "whilst interrogating" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "while questioning"?

Starting a sentence with "while questioning" can be grammatically correct, but ensure the main clause clearly relates to the subject doing the questioning. For example, "While questioning the suspect, the detective noticed a discrepancy in their story."

What's the difference between "while questioning" and "during questioning"?

"While questioning" emphasizes the simultaneous nature of the two actions, whereas "during questioning" focuses on the time period in which the questioning occurs. The difference is subtle, but "while questioning" often implies a more direct connection between the actions.