investigate at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "investigate at" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "investigate" usually requires a direct object or a preposition that indicates what is being investigated, rather than "at." Example: "We need to investigate the cause of the issue."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Something to investigate, at least, besides Spain's imploding housing market, failing banks and rising unemployment.

The New Yorker

In a statement on Saturday evening, the force said it wanted to clarify its position after press reporting queried its decision not to investigate "at this stage".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The FBI did investigate at least one itself, concerning allegations that Robert's killer, Sirhan Sirhan, had attempted to hire a fellow prisoner to end Edward's life, too.

The Guardian

In that case, the fund hired an outside law firm to handle the inquiry because the ethics officer was not authorized to investigate at that high level.

The New York Times

Leung said it took "some time" to get the revelers to leave on Sunday morning, and that without the homeowners present, "the Calgary police had no offense to investigate at that point".

The Guardian - Tech

When one is sexually assaulted – assuming the police investigate at all and the prosecutors intend to do any sort of prosecution – they don't just look into the background of the perpetrator or his (or her) actions during the assault.

The Guardian - Opinion

Whatever view the Justice Department ultimately takes on whether mirror trades constituted "violations of U.S. Law," there is a clear path to investigate at least one member of the Russian branch of Deutsche Bank, Tim Wiswell, a U.S. citizen.

The New Yorker

Ms. Reno opened a preliminary investigation in September 1998 to determine whether she should seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate at least the Clinton part of the accusation.

The New York Times

These chapters - some of them bolstered by interviews conducted by the author - are richly informative, and if you care about music you will almost certainly be inspired to investigate at least one of the albums he deftly describes.

The Guardian - Books

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said it is continuing to investigate at least five incidents of fire or overheating reported since a formal recall was announced on 15 September.

The Guardian - Tech

The Scotland Yard statement read: "After the MPS's decision not to investigate at this stage was queried in press reporting, we would like to clarify the position with regard to this witness.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "investigate", ensure you include a direct object or a preposition like "into", "in", or "on" to clarify what is being investigated. For example, prefer "investigate the matter" or "investigate into the matter" over "investigate at."

Common error

Avoid using "at" after "investigate". This preposition is often incorrect and weakens the clarity of your sentence. Instead, use "investigate the issue", "investigate into the cause", or rephrase to avoid the preposition altogether.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "investigate at" functions as a verb phrase intended to describe the act of examining something. However, it often lacks grammatical correctness as highlighted by Ludwig AI, usually requiring a direct object or a more suitable preposition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "investigate at" is frequently used across various sources, including news media and scientific publications. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it is often grammatically incorrect, usually requiring a direct object or a more appropriate preposition such as "into", "in", or "on". While widely found, it's best to use alternatives like "look into" or to rephrase the sentence for improved clarity and grammatical accuracy. Authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian use this expression, but this does not make it correct from a grammar point of view.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

look into

A common and less formal way to say investigate, often implying a preliminary examination.

examine

Implies a careful and detailed inspection.

probe

Suggests a more thorough and in-depth investigation.

analyze

Focuses on breaking down information to understand its components.

conduct an inquiry

A more formal way of saying investigate, often used in official contexts.

research

Involves systematic inquiry to discover or revise facts.

carry out a study

Emphasizes a systematic and methodical approach to investigation.

delve into

Implies a deep and thorough exploration of a topic.

explore

Suggests venturing into the unknown to discover new information.

assess

Focuses on evaluating or judging the value of something after investigation.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "investigate" in a sentence?

Ensure you include a direct object or a preposition like "into", "in", or "on" to clarify what is being investigated. For example: "investigate the matter", "investigate into the matter", or "investigate the situation" are all correct.

What prepositions can I use with "investigate"?

Common prepositions used with "investigate" include "into", "in", and "on", depending on the specific context. For example, you might "investigate into the causes", "investigate in detail", or "investigate on site".

What can I say instead of "investigate at"?

Consider alternatives like "look into", "examine", or "probe" depending on the specific context. The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "investigate at" grammatically correct?

The phrase "investigate at" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English. It is typically used incorrectly as "investigate" usually requires a direct object or a preposition that indicates what is being investigated, rather than "at."