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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
investigate upon
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "investigate upon" is not correct and not commonly used in written English.
The correct expression is "investigate" without the preposition "upon." Example: "The committee decided to investigate the allegations thoroughly."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
Academia
News & Media
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
3 human-written examples
Besides, if a grand jury may investigate without specific charge, may investigate upon the suggestion of one of its members, must it demonstrate the materiality of every piece of testimony it calls for before it can require the testimony?
Academia
Further experiments are needed in space to investigate upon steroidogenesis and germ cell differentiation within the testis, to rule out male infertility as a possible consequence, which could be a problem, as life expectancy increases.
Science
As an approach to investigate upon the electrochemical property of Zn as a possible lithium battery anode material, an ever first attempt to explore two types of Zn based alloy anodes, viz., Zn0.9Ni0.075In0.025 (nickel rich) and Zn0.9Ni0.025In0.075 (indium rich) was made.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
57 human-written examples
Obvious enhancement of lasing emission in the specimen was investigated upon exposing to plasma atmosphere.
Science
An alternative class of ILs called Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) have recently been discovered and investigated upon.
A reference limestone has been used, and its CO2 capture capacity, propensity to fragmentation and morphological and microstructural changes have been investigated upon iterated looping cycles.
Science
In this work, the pH jump induced α-helix folding of poly-l-glutamic acid is investigated upon proton release from o-nitrobenzaldehyde.
Science
Electroless deposition of Au particles on phage assemblies was investigated upon chemical reduction reaction with NaBH4 at different HAuCl4 precursor concentrations.
The guanidine ligand attached to vinylbenzyl chloride matrix as well as its sorption ability to tetrachloroaurate and dicyanoaurate ions were investigated upon using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Science
The photo-oxidative behavior of the polypropylene (PP /montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites and microcomposites has been investigated upon ultraviolet exposure using the technique of infrared spectroscopy.
Science
In this study, the responses of photoautotrophic C. zofingiensis with respect to growth, lipid profiles and astaxanthin accumulation were investigated upon the starvation of N (NS), P (PS) and S (SS).
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use the verb "investigate" without the preposition "upon" for clarity and grammatical correctness. For example, instead of "investigate upon", use "investigate".
Common error
Avoid adding prepositions like "upon" after "investigate". The verb is already complete and doesn't require additional words to connect it to its object. Prefer "investigate the matter" instead of "investigate upon the matter".
Source & Trust
76%
Authority and reliability
2.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "investigate upon" functions as a verb phrase, but it's considered grammatically incorrect. The verb "investigate" already implies a thorough inquiry, and adding "upon" is redundant. Ludwig AI flags this usage as incorrect.
Frequent in
Science
67%
Academia
33%
News & Media
0%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "investigate upon" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies this, the correct term is simply "investigate". Although it appears in some scientific and academic texts, it's best to avoid it in formal writing. Use the verb "investigate" alone or consider alternatives such as "look into" or "examine" for clarity and correctness. Although less common "investigated based upon" and "relying upon to investigate" are acceptable, "investigate upon" is not.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
investigate
Removes the preposition "upon", correcting the grammatical error and providing a direct and commonly used alternative.
look into
Offers a more informal and general way to describe the act of investigating something.
examine
Suggests a more detailed and careful investigation.
inquire into
Implies a formal or official investigation.
probe
Suggests a thorough and deep investigation, often into sensitive or hidden matters.
scrutinize
Highlights the act of careful and critical examination.
delve into
Indicates a detailed and immersive exploration of a topic.
explore
Suggests a broader and less structured investigation.
research
Implies a systematic and academic investigation.
conduct an inquiry
Suggests a formal and structured investigation, often by an official body.
FAQs
Is "investigate upon" grammatically correct?
No, the phrase "investigate upon" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct and more common usage is simply "investigate".
What does it mean to "investigate" something?
To "investigate" means to carry out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of an incident, allegation, etc. so as to establish the truth.
Which is correct, "investigate" or "investigate upon"?
"Investigate" is the correct and commonly used term. "Investigate upon" is not standard English.
What are some alternatives to "investigate"?
Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "look into", "examine", or "inquire into" instead of "investigate".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
76%
Authority and reliability
2.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested