examine a subject

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "examine a subject" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the analysis or investigation of a particular topic or area of study. Example: "In this paper, we will examine a subject that has been largely overlooked in recent research."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The training has opened my eyes: I learned how to really examine a subject and curriculum and to use the instruction manual to benefit the student.

The New York Times

Although medical schools are looking for students who have gone beyond basic course work to examine a subject in depth, admissions committees can readily distinguish between advanced work that arises out of genuine intellectual engagement and research just to pad the résumé.

The New York Times

And yet that's exactly what University of California Riverside, philosophy professor John Martin Fischer received last year for a project that will involve dozens of scientists, philosophers, and theologians from around the world to examine a subject that is probably unknowable: immortality.

Vice

The third experiment was designed to examine a subject's ability to learn the prior's mean independent of the variance.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

To test for spatial and/or order associations of the subject solving the gaze following task, we examined a subject's responses to catch trials in the two control experiments.

eLife

Start examining a subject you wish to study deeply.

WikiHow

Some good subjects would be: Start examining a subject you wish to study deeply.

WikiHow

Although this pilot study examined a single subject and requires further examination, the observed scalp voltage patterns suggest that selective processing of faces in the chimpanzee brain can be detected by recording surface ERPs.

Plosone

To examine a female subject, her father, and a brother harboring a missense mutation of the retinitis pigmentosa 1-like 1 (RP1L1) gene, over 2 years of follow-up.

American Journal of Ophthalmology

Interestingly, when we controlled for behavioral differences between patients and normal subjects (by examining a subset of subjects), there was still evidence for significant differences in coupling.

Cerebral Cortex

This was the first study to examine a cohort of subjects exposed to naturally occurring surface asbestos.

Bioanalysis

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing academically or professionally, use "examine a subject" to introduce a critical analysis or systematic investigation of a particular topic.

Common error

Avoid using "examine a subject" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "look at" or "think about" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "examine a subject" functions as a verb phrase introducing the action of investigating or analyzing a particular topic. It sets the stage for a detailed exploration, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "examine a subject" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to introduce a critical analysis or investigation of a topic. While relatively rare, it appears in reputable sources such as The New York Times and Plosone, primarily in scientific and news contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. When writing, it's best to use this phrase in formal or academic settings, avoiding it in casual conversation. Consider alternatives like "investigate a topic" or "analyze a theme" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

investigate a topic

Focuses on a systematic or formal inquiry into a subject.

analyze a theme

Implies breaking down a subject into its components for detailed study.

study a matter

Suggests a broader and potentially less formal exploration of a subject.

explore an issue

Highlights the process of looking into all aspects of a subject.

consider a question

Focuses on reflecting upon a particular subject or query.

assess an idea

Indicates evaluating the merits and implications of a particular idea or subject.

delve into a field

Suggests an in-depth and thorough investigation of a subject area.

probe a problem

Implies a deep and critical examination of a specific problem.

review a case

Focuses on looking back over a subject for the purpose of evaluation or correction.

research a phenomenon

Indicates a scientific or scholarly investigation into an observable occurrence.

FAQs

What does "examine a subject" mean?

The phrase "examine a subject" means to investigate, analyze, or inquire into a particular topic or area of study. It implies a thorough and critical review.

When is it appropriate to use "examine a subject"?

It is suitable in academic, scientific, and professional contexts where a detailed analysis or investigation is being presented. It's less appropriate in informal settings.

What can I say instead of "examine a subject"?

You can use alternatives like "investigate a topic", "analyze a theme", or "study a matter" depending on the context.

How does "examine a subject" differ from "study a subject"?

"Examine a subject" suggests a more critical and analytical approach, while "study a subject" implies a broader, more general learning process. Examining involves closer scrutiny and evaluation.