delve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delve" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express the act of investigating or exploring a subject in depth. Example: "In her research paper, she decided to delve into the effects of climate change on marine life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But it does delve deep into the heart of the American soul.

The Guardian

Indeed, she had a rare ability to delve deeply and thoroughly into the events of the past century, evaluate the scope and meaning of each of them, and analyse the unique features of different countries and regions.

The Guardian

An Oxford historian, Ruth Harris, has gained access to many thousands of unpublished letters, and letters not yet published in English, which delve further into Dreyfus and the miscarriage of justice that sparked political turmoil.

The Guardian

Investigators are likely to delve into Lubitz's personal life to uncover any clues about his mental state.

The Guardian

So you don't have to delve into the archive (though it would be great if you want to – everyone from Ray Davies to Hercules & Love Affair are there) we've pulled them together in one place.

The Guardian - Music

Do journalists need to be more willing to delve deeper into stories to give their readers more context and understanding of the world's problems?

The Guardian

This is a necessarily random scattering of books that delve really not that deeply into the shallowness of it all.

The Guardian - Books

"After we finished touring Total Life Forever I had a hankering to get my hands dirty, to delve into the soil".

The Guardian - Music

During this time I had reason to delve more deeply into one of the two cities where my backburner novel would have been set.

The Guardian - Books

Using Better Together's first slab of donations, Cooper embarked in May 2012 on a poll of 4,000 voters – far larger than the 1,000 or so voters normally surveyed for a commercial poll, to delve into the Scottish electorate's attitudes to independence and the union.

The Guardian

Regrettably, when the film does delve into Travers's background, it takes the form of flashbacks to her childhood in Australia.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "delve" when you want to emphasize a thorough and careful search for information, often involving uncovering hidden or complex details. For example, "The historian had to delve into the archives to find the original documents."

Common error

Avoid using "delve" when a simple "look at" or "consider" would suffice. "Delve" implies a significant commitment to uncovering details, not a superficial glance. For example, don't say "Let's delve into this menu," when you just mean "Let's look at this menu."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "delve" is as an intransitive verb, often followed by the preposition "into". It describes the act of conducting a thorough and careful investigation. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "delve" is a grammatically sound and versatile verb, typically employed to convey the notion of a thorough and intensive investigation or exploration. Ludwig confirms its appropriate usage across diverse contexts, predominantly in news, business, and scientific domains. While generally suitable for neutral and formal communication, caution should be exercised to avoid overuse in casual conversation. Effective substitutes for "delve" include "investigate thoroughly", "explore deeply", and "dig into", contingent on the specific context. Remember to use "delve" when you want to emphasize a thorough and careful search for information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dig into

Similar to "delve", this suggests uncovering hidden or less obvious information.

explore deeply

This alternative highlights the exploratory aspect of examining something in detail.

analyze in depth

Focuses on the analytical aspect of a thorough examination.

investigate thoroughly

This alternative emphasizes the systematic and detailed nature of the inquiry.

probe into

This alternative suggests a more intrusive or penetrating form of investigation.

research extensively

Highlights the academic or scientific approach to gathering information.

inquire into

Implies a formal or official investigation.

scrutinize

This alternative stresses careful and critical examination.

look into

A general term for investigation, less intense than "delve".

go into detail

Focuses on the level of detail rather than the act of searching.

FAQs

How to use "delve" in a sentence?

"Delve" is often used to describe a thorough investigation or exploration. For example, "The reporter decided to delve into the corruption scandal" or "The scientist needed to delve deeply into the data to find the pattern".

What can I say instead of "delve"?

You can use alternatives like "investigate thoroughly", "explore deeply", or "dig into" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "delve into the matter"?

Yes, "delve into the matter" is a correct and commonly used phrase. It suggests a detailed and thorough examination of the topic at hand.

What's the difference between "delve" and "examine"?

"Examine" implies a general inspection, while "delve" suggests a deeper, more intensive investigation. You might "examine" a document quickly, but you would "delve" into it to uncover hidden meanings or details.