question as to whether, question of whether (question whether)

Writers often add extra words to phrases with "question" - for example, "question as to whether" or "question of whether." The concise, usually stronger form is "question whether." Better still: use an active verb or turn the clause into a direct question.

Quick answer

Prefer "question whether" over "question as to whether" or "question of whether." When possible, replace the noun + clause with an active verb (questioned, wondered, determine) or a direct question. Use "if" only in informal contexts and avoid it when it creates ambiguity.

Shortest fix: remove "as to"/"of" → "question whether".
Stronger: rewrite the noun as a verb → "questioned whether", "wonder whether", "determine whether".
Informal: "if" is common in speech and casual messages; use "whether" for clarity and formality.

Core explanation: why the longer forms are weaker

"Question whether" connects the noun directly to a subordinate clause introduced by whether. "As to" and "of" are usually redundant prepositions that add bulk without adding meaning.

Often you can remove the noun entirely and use an active verb or a direct question. That makes sentences clearer and more immediate.

"Question whether" = concise noun + clause.
"Question as to/of whether" = wordy, often legalistic or stilted.
Prefer verb rewrites or direct questions where possible.

Real usage and tone: match the phrase to your audience

Choose the form that fits the writing situation. Formal documents benefit from "whether" or an active verb. Professional emails should be direct. Casual speech and texts commonly use "if."

Formal: use "whether" or a verb rewrite - "The committee questioned whether..."
Professional: tighten to show the decision-maker - "We must decide whether..."
Casual: "if" is fine - "I don't know if..." - but avoid "question as to whether" (it sounds pompous).

Work (formal): The board must determine whether to approve the budget by Friday.
School (academic): The report raises the question whether the sample size was sufficient.
Casual: Not sure if she can make it to dinner.

Common wrong / right pairs you can copy (quick fixes)

Apply one of two moves: drop "as to"/"of" (question whether) or convert the noun into a verb (questioned/wondered/determine).

Wrong: There is a question as to whether he will attend the meeting.
Right: There is a question whether he will attend the meeting.
Wrong: The committee raised a question of whether the policy should change.
Right: The committee questioned whether the policy should change.
Wrong: She had a question as to whether she could claim the expenses.
Right: She questioned whether she could claim the expenses.
Wrong: There remains a question as to whether the data are reliable.
Right: A question remains whether the data are reliable.
Wrong: I have a question of whether to accept the offer.
Right: I have a question whether to accept the offer.
Wrong: Experts debated the question as to whether the drug was effective.
Right: Experts debated whether the drug was effective.

Work examples: concise edits for business writing

Business writing benefits from direct verbs and named actors. This keeps action items clear and reduces ambiguity about responsibilities.

Turn the noun into an action when assigning tasks: "Decide whether...", "Confirm whether...".
Make the actor explicit to avoid vague phrasing.

Work - Wrong: The project manager raised a question as to whether the timeline was realistic.
Work - Right: The project manager questioned whether the timeline was realistic.
Work - Wrong: There is a question of whether the budget can be reallocated.
Work - Right: We need to determine whether the budget can be reallocated.
Work - Wrong: There is a question as to whether the vendor will meet the SLA.
Work - Right: We must decide whether the vendor can meet the SLA.

School examples: phrasing for essays and reports

Academic readers expect precision. Replace filler with "whether" or an active verb to sharpen claims and show who is doing the evaluating.

Use "whether" in formal writing; reserve "if" for quoted casual speech.
Active verbs clarify who draws the conclusion or raises the issue.

School - Wrong: The study poses a question as to whether the intervention caused the change.
School - Right: The study questions whether the intervention caused the change.
School - Wrong: There is a question of whether the sample size was sufficient.
School - Right: A remaining question is whether the sample size was sufficient.
School - Wrong: The paper raises a question as to whether the effect generalizes.
School - Right: It is unclear whether the effect generalizes to other populations.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence rather than the phrase alone. Context usually makes the correct rewrite clear.

Casual examples: emails, texts, and conversation

In quick messages, brevity wins. Use "if" for everyday speech but avoid "question as to whether" - it reads overly formal.

If you need options or precision, use "whether" or pose a direct question.

Use "if" in casual settings for quick yes/no ideas.
Use "whether" when offering alternatives or when clarity is needed.

Casual - Wrong: I have a question as to whether you want pizza or sushi tonight.
Casual - Right: Do you want pizza or sushi tonight?
Casual - Wrong: Not sure as to whether she can come.
Casual - Right: Not sure if she can come.
Casual - Wrong: There's a question of whether he'll reply before Monday.
Casual - Right: I don't know if he'll reply before Monday.

Rewrite help: three reliable patterns and a short checklist

Most fixes fit one of three patterns: drop the preposition, convert to a verb, or make a direct question. Use the checklist to edit quickly.

Pattern A - Drop the extra words: "There is a question as to whether X" → "There is a question whether X."
Pattern B - Use an active verb: "They raised a question of whether X" → "They questioned whether X" or "They wondered whether X."
Pattern C - Make it direct: "There is a question whether X" → "Is X true?" or "Decide whether X."
Checklist: 1) Search for "question as to"/"question of". 2) Try Pattern A. 3) If still weak, use Pattern B or C. 4) Read the sentence aloud; if it still feels heavy, split it.

Rewrite A: There is a question as to whether we should proceed → There is a question whether we should proceed.
Rewrite B: The board raised a question as to whether the plan was feasible → The board questioned whether the plan was feasible.
Rewrite C: There is a question of whether the data are reliable → Are the data reliable?

Memory trick, spacing, hyphenation and grammar notes

Mnemonic: Q+W - when you see "question" (Q) plus "as to"/"of," switch to "question" + "whether" (W). Imagine the question shedding its heavy coat ("as to"/"of").

Spacing and hyphenation: these edits don't require hyphens or special spacing. No hyphen between "whether" and the clause that follows.

"Whether" vs "or not": "or not" is optional. Keep it when you want to stress both possibilities; drop it when it is redundant.

Q+W rule: change "question as to/of" → "question whether" or rewrite with a verb.
No hyphens or extra spacing needed.
Use commas only where normal clause punctuation calls for them (for example, after introductory phrases).

Usage: Correct: After the review, we asked whether the policy needed revision.
Usage: Emphasis: "Whether or not we agree, we must comply." (keeps both outcomes explicit)

Similar mistakes to watch for

The same issue appears with "concern as to whether," "doubt as to whether," and "issue as to whether." Fix them the same way: remove "as to"/"of" or use an active verb (concerned whether, doubted whether).

Be cautious with "if" vs "whether": "if" is fine informally, but avoid it in formal writing or where it could be read as a conditional.

Apply the three rewrite patterns to these variants.
Prefer "whether" in formal contexts; use "if" only informally and when no ambiguity exists.

Wrong: There is concern as to whether the model overfits.
Right: There is concern whether the model overfits.
Wrong: He expressed doubt as to whether she would return.
Right: He doubted whether she would return.
Wrong: They raised the issue as to whether the clause would apply.
Right: They questioned whether the clause would apply.

FAQ

Is "question as to whether" always grammatically wrong?

No - it is grammatically acceptable, but wordy. Editors and readers typically prefer "question whether" or an active-verb rewrite for clarity and concision.

Should I use "if" or "whether" after "question"?

Use "whether" in formal writing and whenever you present alternatives. "If" is common in informal speech and messages, but avoid it when the clause could be read as conditional.

When should I keep "or not" after "whether"?

Keep "or not" when you need to emphasize both outcomes. If the meaning is clear without it, omit it to streamline the sentence.

Can I fix many instances quickly in a long document?

Search for "question as to" and "question of," then apply one of the three fixes (drop the preposition, verb rewrite, or direct question). A grammar tool can speed this across a document and suggest tone-appropriate rewrites.

Does changing to "whether" ever change meaning?

Usually it doesn't - the change is stylistic. But if "as to" or "of" appears in a legal or technical phrase meant to convey a specific relation, double-check with a subject-matter expert before editing.

Want a quick check?

Scan for "question as to"/"question of" and try the Q+W fix or a verb rewrite. If you want a second opinion, run the paragraph through a grammar tool to get tone-specific suggestions for work, school, or casual writing.