Public Services and Procurement Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Important notice

Writing Tips has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.

For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!

Search Canada.ca
To begin your search, go to the alphabetical index below and click on the first letter of the word you are searching for.

question as to whether

To write plainly and concisely, use if or whether instead of the roundabout phrase the question as to whether.

  • Wordy: The question as to whether there is a surplus remains a hotly debated topic.
  • Concise: Whether there is a surplus remains a hotly debated topic.
  • Wordy: The members will vote on the question as to whether they should strike.
  • Concise: The members will vote on whether they should strike.