investigate to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "investigate to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is typically used when indicating the purpose of an investigation, but it requires additional context to be meaningful. Example: "We need to investigate to determine the cause of the issue."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

There's too much to investigate to worry about minor pains.

The New York Times

Congress should investigate to see if this is common among major corporations.

The New York Times

As reporters, wasn't it their job to investigate, to ask questions, to develop good sources?

The New Yorker

She directed Children's Services to investigate "to see if any fraud took place".

The New York Times

"We're going to investigate, to follow up not only him but his wife.

The Guardian

"We need somebody else in there, to investigate, to fix the problems, to come up with something positive.

The New York Times

Roger Stone, leader of the council, said: "We are going to investigate to make sure everything has been done professionally.

The Guardian

"Therefore it is necessary that experts in the field investigate to see how much truth there is in these discussions".

The Guardian

Police and detectives began to investigate to establish the exact location where the women were being held.

The Guardian

"I encourage the appropriate agencies to investigate to ensure that Americans have not had their privacy violated," he said.

The Guardian

In contrast to Beckett's nihilism, Adler's approach — to investigate, to contextualize, even to transform — is profoundly positive.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating the purpose of an investigation, use a more grammatically standard construction such as "investigate in order to" or "investigate with the aim of" for improved clarity.

Common error

Avoid directly connecting "investigate" with "to" when expressing purpose; including words like "in order" or "so as" creates a smoother, more grammatical flow. For example use: investigate in order to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "investigate to" functions as an infinitive of purpose, aiming to express the reason or intent behind an investigation. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically questionable and requires additional context for clarity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "investigate to" is frequently used, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically dubious and often requires context to be fully understood. It functions primarily to express the purpose of an investigation, appearing commonly in news and scientific contexts. For improved clarity, consider using alternatives like "investigate in order to" or "examine in order to" which provide a more grammatically standard and readily comprehensible expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

examine in order to

Replaces "investigate" with a synonym and clarifies the purpose.

explore with the aim of

Uses a different verb and specifies the intended outcome of the exploration.

research for the purpose of

Employs "research" and clearly states the objective.

analyze to determine

Focuses on analysis with a specific goal of determining something.

study in order to understand

Highlights the act of studying for comprehension.

look into with the intention of

Uses the phrasal verb "look into" and specifies the intention.

probe so as to ascertain

Employs "probe" and "ascertain" to indicate a thorough investigation.

check in order to verify

Focuses on checking with the aim of verification.

scrutinize to confirm

Uses "scrutinize" and "confirm" to indicate a detailed examination.

assess in order to evaluate

Emphasizes assessment for the purpose of evaluation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "investigate to" to sound more natural?

You can use phrases such as "investigate in order to", "investigate with the aim of", or "look into with the intention of" depending on the specific context.

What is a more grammatically correct way to express the purpose of an investigation?

Instead of "investigate to", use constructions like "examine in order to", "research for the purpose of", or "analyze to determine" to clearly convey the reason for the investigation.

Is "investigate to" grammatically incorrect?

Yes, "investigate to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to include intermediate words such as "in order" or "so as" to clarify the sentence's structure and improve its readability. For example use: investigate in order to.

What's the difference between "investigate to" and "investigate in order to"?

"Investigate to" is a grammatically unsound construction. "Investigate in order to" clearly expresses the purpose of the investigation, providing better clarity and adhering to standard grammatical conventions. Using "in order to" makes the sentence clearer and easier to understand.