have investigated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have investigated" is correct and usable in written English.
It implies that something has been looked into or studied in order to find out more information. For example, "The police have investigated the scene of the crime to gather more evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Congress should have investigated immediately.

The New York Times

Television documentaries have investigated the phenomenon.

The New York Times

Economists have investigated interstellar travel as well.

The Economist

Canada should have investigated these crimes.

The Guardian - Opinion

"They should have investigated this on their own".

The New York Times

For the last two decades, I have investigated homeopathy scientifically.

The Guardian

They claimed to have investigated but hadn't found out anything".

The Guardian

Previous studies have investigated this question by analysing employment data.

The Guardian

Several European countries have investigated or are investigating Google's actions.

The New York Times - Tech

The inquiry would have investigated actions by both sides.

Independent

A more scholarly book might have investigated other criticisms.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have investigated", ensure the context clearly indicates what was being investigated and the scope or purpose of the investigation. Providing specific details enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "have investigated" without specifying what was investigated. Vague usage diminishes the sentence's informative value. Instead of saying 'They have investigated', specify 'They have investigated the claims of fraud'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have investigated" functions as a present perfect tense construction of the verb "investigate". It describes an action of inquiring into something that was completed at an unspecified time in the past and is relevant to the present. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have investigated" is a versatile phrase used to denote that a process of inquiry or examination has been completed. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains. Its high frequency, particularly in scientific and news media contexts, underscores its utility in conveying that a matter has been thoroughly examined. To ensure clarity, always specify the subject of investigation and, when appropriate, the scope or purpose. By avoiding vague usage and providing specific details, one can leverage the full informative power of "have investigated".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have examined

Replaces "investigated" with "examined", suggesting a closer, more detailed inspection.

have explored

Substitutes "investigated" with "explored", implying a more open-ended and comprehensive inquiry.

have analyzed

Replaces "investigated" with "analyzed", focusing on a systematic and detailed examination of the components.

have delved into

Replaces "investigated" with "delved into", suggesting a deeper, more thorough exploration.

have inquired into

Substitutes "investigated" with "inquired into", indicating a formal or official investigation.

have scrutinized

Replaces "investigated" with "scrutinized", highlighting a careful and critical examination.

have researched

Substitutes "investigated" with "researched", focusing on a systematic study to discover and interpret facts.

have looked into

Replaces "investigated" with "looked into", a more informal way to express examining something.

have studied

Substitutes "investigated" with "studied", implying a focused academic examination.

have assessed

Replaces "investigated" with "assessed", emphasizing the evaluation aspect of the examination.

FAQs

What does "have investigated" mean?

"Have investigated" signifies that a thorough inquiry or examination has been conducted to uncover facts, evidence, or information about a particular subject or situation. It implies a systematic approach to learning more about something.

What can I say instead of "have investigated"?

You can use alternatives like "have examined", "have explored", or "have analyzed" depending on the context.

How is "have investigated" different from "have researched"?

While both imply a systematic inquiry, "have researched" typically refers to a more formal and academic study. "Have investigated" can encompass a broader range of inquiries, including those conducted by law enforcement or journalists. In short, "have researched" suggests a scientific or academic investigation.

When is it appropriate to use "have investigated" in writing?

Use "have investigated" when you want to convey that a systematic and thorough inquiry has taken place to uncover information or evidence about a particular subject. It's appropriate in contexts where a formal or official examination has been conducted.