do an investigation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "do an investigation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are talking about someone conducting research or looking into a particular issue or problem. For example: "The police have been asked to do an investigation into the missing money."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If I do, an investigation will commence.

The New York Times

I wish someone would do an investigation for God's sake.

Harvard University

I did not do an investigation of that.

The Washington Post

If there is a car accident, you do an investigation".

The New York Times

"There wasn't a need for me to do an investigation".

The Guardian

But he added: "They need to do an investigation".

The Guardian

"The D.A. wants to do an investigation first, and that's fine with us," O'Reilly said.

The New Yorker

They gotta do an investigation any time a kid gets hurt.

The New York Times - Books

I had Con Ed come and do an investigation of why it was so expensive.

The New Yorker

We don't know why it snapped off and we will certainly do an investigation.

The New York Times

So I wanted to do an investigation about what it means to be Chechen right now".

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger verbs like "conduct", "launch", or "undertake" for a more formal or impactful tone.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice constructions that obscure who is performing the investigation. Instead of saying "An investigation needs to be done", specify who will "do an investigation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do an investigation" functions as a verb phrase where "do" acts as a light verb, taking "investigation" as its complement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically sound and frequently employed in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "do an investigation" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe the act of conducting a systematic inquiry. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is acceptable and widely used. While versatile, it is best suited for neutral contexts like news and general discussions. For more formal or professional settings, consider alternatives such as ""conduct an inquiry"" or ""undertake a review"". Remember to specify who is carrying out the investigation to avoid passive voice and maintain clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conduct an inquiry

Replaces "investigation" with "inquiry", focusing on a systematic or official examination.

carry out an examination

Substitutes "investigation" with "examination", emphasizing a detailed inspection or study.

launch a probe

Uses "probe" instead of "investigation", suggesting a thorough inquiry to uncover facts.

undertake a review

Replaces "investigation" with "review", highlighting a formal assessment or evaluation.

perform a fact-finding mission

Emphasizes the process of discovering the truth through investigation.

look into the matter

Offers a more informal way of saying "investigate", suitable for less formal contexts.

delve into the issue

Implies a deep and thorough examination of a problem or situation.

explore the situation

Focuses on understanding all aspects of a given situation through investigation.

scrutinize the evidence

Highlights a careful and critical examination of evidence.

analyze the data

Focuses on a detailed analysis of information related to the subject of investigation.

FAQs

How can I use "do an investigation" in a sentence?

You can use "do an investigation" when you want to express that someone needs to examine something, for example: "The police will "conduct an inquiry" to determine what really happened".

What are some alternatives to "do an investigation"?

You can use alternatives like ""conduct an inquiry"", "carry out an examination", or "launch a probe" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "conduct an investigation" than "do an investigation"?

Yes, ""conduct an inquiry"" is generally considered more formal and suitable for professional or official contexts compared to the more casual "do an investigation".

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "do an investigation"?

The phrase "do an investigation" is appropriate in a wide range of contexts, from informal conversations to news reports, but is less common in formal academic writing. Alternatives such as "undertake a review" are generally preferrable for those contexts.