investigate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'investigate' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a thorough examination or study of something in order to discover the truth. For example, "The police are currently investigating the incident to determine what happened."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We take any complaint seriously and will aim to investigate and respond as quickly as possible and in any event within 28 days.

The Guardian

Professor Willem Kuyken, director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, leads the Aspire Project, a study set up in 2013 to investigate patients' access to MBCT across the UK.

The Guardian

Last year Prof Nick Black of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and I were asked by Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of NHS England, to investigate 14 NHS trusts that were giving concern because they had high mortality rates.

The Guardian

The Metropolitan police force has signalled that it is prepared to send officers abroad if necessary to investigate the abuse allegations.

The Guardian

Every five days if you're Kim Kardashian When I visited the Poundland warehouse to investigate its last round of successes, I was struck by the way the shop makes you aware of your relationship with brands, and how one judges a product's value when everything's a fixed price.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One article even opened with the words: "Police were called in to investigate a construction firm after a 23-year-old woman accused builders of sexual harassment – for WOLF-WHISTLING".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Only two of the eight universities, UCL and Georgetown, responded to a letter sent from the ITUC calling for them to investigate evidence of modern-day slavery on their campuses.

The Guardian

On 24 June , 2014 Donovan and I confronted Ghomeshi with the claims of my original four sources in an emailed letter; he denied everything and threatened to sue if we published or continued to investigate him.

The Guardian - Opinion

But 20 years ago, you couldn't move for thrillers in provincial theatres: always set in country houses or smart London flats, always starring an actor off the TV in neckerchief and fawn slacks (Gerald Harper or Jack Hedley or Bill Simpson), always featuring a drinks trolley, an attractive fiance, a best friend and a stalwart detective who appears after the interval to investigate the crime.

The Guardian

Gabry said that the initial trial also failed to investigate claims that the defendants had produced testimony under duress, and as a result "the court of cassation is unable to show how right or wrong the verdict is".

The Guardian

Its staff of 400 computer engineers, trainers and investigators go to ministries and strategic companies to give courses on how to secure mobile communications or investigate hacking attempts.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose a more precise verb if the context allows. For instance, use "scrutinize" if you want to convey a sense of detailed critical examination or use "probe" if you want to convey the investigation is deep.

Common error

While "investigate" is a versatile verb, avoid using it in overly casual situations where simpler terms like "look into" or "check" would be more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "I'll investigate the problem", consider saying "I'll look into the problem" in everyday conversations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "investigate" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being inquired into or examined. As stated by Ludwig AI, it denotes an act of inquiring or studying something to discover and examine facts and details.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "investigate" is a frequently used verb, generally to describe a systematic inquiry or examination conducted to uncover facts or establish the truth. As Ludwig AI highlights, "investigate" is grammatically correct and suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in news, media, and formal settings. While "investigate" is versatile, context-specific synonyms like "examine", "probe", or "scrutinize" may better suit the intended nuance. Be aware of the register; while broadly applicable, ""look into"" may be more conversational, and more formal synonyms might be better in highly academic contexts. Remembering to avoid overuse in casual situations and ensuring clarity in subject and scope is key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

examine

Implies a detailed inspection, similar to "investigate" but can be less formal.

look into

A more informal way to say "investigate", often used for preliminary inquiries.

inquire into

A more formal way to say "investigate", often used in official contexts.

carry out an examination

A more elaborate way of saying "examine", implying a thorough and methodical approach.

probe

Suggests a deeper, more thorough investigation into a sensitive or complex issue.

conduct an inquiry

Suggests a formal and structured investigation, usually with a specific purpose.

scrutinize

Emphasizes a critical and careful examination, often looking for flaws or errors.

undertake a study

Focuses on a systematic and detailed analysis, often with academic or scientific implications.

delve into

Implies a thorough and in-depth exploration of a topic or issue.

research

A general term for systematic investigation to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

FAQs

How to use "investigate" in a sentence?

You can use "investigate" to describe the act of inquiring into or studying something to discover and examine the facts and details of an incident, allegation or claim. For example: "The police will "look into" this case carefully." /s/look+into

What can I say instead of "investigate"?

You can use alternatives like "examine", "probe", or "scrutinize" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "investigate about" or "investigate"?

"Investigate" is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition "about". The correct usage is simply "investigate [something]", not "investigate about [something]".

What's the difference between "investigate" and "research"?

"Research" generally involves a broader and more academic study, while "investigate" typically implies a focused inquiry into a specific incident or allegation. Ludwig AI can help you "understand" the nuances of the two verbs.