having investigated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "having investigated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an investigation has been completed prior to the action or statement that follows. Example: "Having investigated the matter thoroughly, we have concluded that no further action is necessary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Having investigated zealously and written a fiery report, Raven sealed it in his college library.

The New York Times - Books

In essence, Apple, having investigated itself, said to curious public onlookers: "Nothing to see here, folks.

The New York Times - Tech

Having investigated many suicides in his career, he added that there is always disbelief.

The New York Times

That's despite the AFP having investigated former speaker Peter Slipper in 2012 over allegations he misused taxi dockets.

The Guardian

And the paper, having investigated the website further, also wondered about the provenance of two images "purporting" to be members of Lawrence's family.

The Guardian

Merrill Lynch, having investigated the matter, now says it has determined that no such event occurred and that Mr. Patrick left the building that day unescorted.

The New York Times

The Commission, after having investigated the matter, accordingly launched the pre-contentious procedure in compliance with Article 226 (Ex-Art. 169) of the TEC.

Columbia University

It is appropriate for the standards commissioner to get involved and arrive at her own conclusions, having investigated the full facts.

The Guardian

The DCRI, a counterespionage agency, acknowledged having investigated the source of the leaks after information from closed-door testimony appeared in Le Monde.

The New York Times

Having investigated the Pilkington case and many others involving disabled people targeted by groups over the last five years, I just don't believe that "Fiona's law" will prevent other such crimes happening.

The Guardian - Opinion

CJ, Winchester We wouldn't have thought a modern mobile could even make a 10-hour call as the battery would fail, but TalkTalk insists that having investigated the case, that is what happened.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having investigated" to clearly establish that the investigation preceded the action or decision being described. For example: "Having investigated the claims, the committee issued its report."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring the subject performing the investigation is clearly identified and directly related to the clause following "having investigated". For example, avoid: "Having investigated, the report concluded..." (reports don't investigate). Instead, specify who investigated: "Having investigated the matter, the team concluded in its report...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having investigated" functions as a perfect gerund phrase, acting as an adverbial modifier to indicate that an action (the investigation) has been completed before the main verb's action occurs. As Ludwig AI indicates, this highlights the completed action as a precursor to the subsequent event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having investigated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used perfect gerund phrase that serves to establish a causal relationship between a completed investigation and a subsequent action or conclusion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to show that a decision or action is informed by thoroughness, making it most appropriate for neutral to formal contexts such as news reports, scientific analyses, and academic papers. When using the phrase, ensure the subject performing the investigation is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity and the intended emphasis is correctly conveyed. Alternative phrases, such as "after conducting an investigation" or "following an inquiry", can be used for variety or to adjust the level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after conducting an investigation

Replaces the gerund form with a more explicit noun phrase, providing a slightly more formal tone.

following an inquiry

Substitutes "investigation" with "inquiry", implying a potentially less formal or extensive examination.

on the basis of our investigation

Emphasizes the investigation as the foundation for subsequent actions or conclusions.

subsequent to the investigation

Replaces the gerund with a prepositional phrase to mark sequence, offering increased formality.

with the benefit of investigation

Highlights the advantage gained from the completed investigation.

once the investigation was complete

Uses a full clause to describe the completion of the investigation, creating a slightly different sentence structure.

the investigation having been carried out

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the process of the investigation.

after delving into

Offers a more informal and descriptive alternative, suggesting a deep and thorough exploration.

upon examining the evidence

Focuses specifically on the examination of evidence as part of the investigation process.

assessing the situation

Offers a more general alternative, suitable when the investigation involves evaluation rather than formal inquiry.

FAQs

How can I use "having investigated" in a sentence?

Begin the sentence with "having investigated", followed by the subject that conducted the investigation and the subsequent action or conclusion. For instance, "Having investigated the incident, the police released a statement."

What are some alternatives to "having investigated"?

Consider using alternatives such as "after conducting an investigation", "following an inquiry", or "on the basis of our investigation depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it always necessary to use "having investigated", or are there simpler alternatives?

While "having investigated" is grammatically correct, simpler alternatives like "after investigating" or "upon investigation" may be more concise and suitable for less formal writing. The choice depends on the desired emphasis and tone.

What's the difference between "having investigated" and "after investigating"?

"Having investigated" emphasizes the completion of the investigation before the subsequent action, while "after investigating" simply indicates a sequence of events. The difference is subtle, but "having investigated" can create a stronger sense of causality.