investigated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "investigated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of examining or inquiring into a matter or situation to uncover facts or information. Example: "The detective investigated the crime scene thoroughly to gather evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

According to witness statements collected by the Investigative Reporting Project Italy (IRPI), which has investigated allegations against Maglio for one year, many women who say they were drugged and possibly assaulted by Maglio recall feeling comforted by the fact that he was a police officer when they decided to stay with him.

The Guardian

Crowds turned out in the Fife town on Sunday to support the family of Sheku Bayoh, the 31-year-old gas engineer whose death is being investigated by Scotland's police watchdog, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).

The Guardian

Lochlinn Parker, of the law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors, who is representing the students, said: "It is relatively rare for the IPCC to launch an independent investigation, when you consider that the overwhelming majority of complaints are investigated by the local police force.

The Guardian

"I have been assured by the assembly that these were rogue actions and are being fully investigated".

The Guardian

Two sons of the former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid are being investigated by the federal competition watchdog over alleged "cartel conduct" in securing a coal exploration licence over an area that included the Obeid family's farm.

The Guardian

While Crawley has a proportionately much smaller Muslim population than others on the list, the West Sussex town was in the spotlight last year as the home of the first British jihadi suicide bomber of the Syrian civil war, and of three men jailed in 2007 for a bomb plot investigated by police under Operation Crevice.

The Guardian

Several police forces could be investigated over their handling of sexual abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile after the police watchdog confirmed that an inquiry was a possibility and a lawyer representing alleged victims said there were urgent questions to be answered.

The Guardian

The shooting is being investigated by a group of 15 officers from neighbouring police forces, sparking criticisms of a lack of impartiality.

The Guardian

The BBC is to be investigated over a news bulletin that featured a child saying he backed Ukip "to get all the foreigners out".

The Guardian

Barack Obama offered security support to Kenya on Monday, as authorities in Washington investigated reports that American citizens may have been involved in the terrorist attack on a shopping mall that killed at least 62 people.

The Guardian

Shaw most recently investigated a terrible fire in Stoke-on-Trent.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "investigated", ensure the context clearly indicates who conducted the investigation and what the scope of the inquiry was.

Common error

Avoid using "investigated" in casual conversation; opt for more informal alternatives like "looked into" or "checked out" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "investigated" is as the past participle of the verb "investigate". It's used to describe actions that have been examined thoroughly, as Ludwig AI clearly shows.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "investigated" is a very common past participle form of the verb "investigate", used to describe a thorough and systematic inquiry into a situation or incident. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and often found in news and media contexts, as well as in formal and business settings. While generally neutral in register, "investigated" implies a more serious and official examination compared to informal alternatives like "looked into". When using "investigated", it's essential to specify who conducted the inquiry and its specific scope to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

examined

Focuses on a detailed and careful inspection.

looked into

Implies a less formal, often preliminary examination.

scrutinized

Emphasizes a critical and detailed examination.

inquired into

Indicates a formal investigation or questioning.

probed

Implies a deep and thorough investigation, often to uncover something hidden.

reviewed

Focuses on a critical assessment of something previously examined.

studied

Suggests a thorough and systematic analysis, often academic.

delved into

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

researched

Highlights the systematic gathering of information from various sources.

explored

Suggests a broad and open-ended investigation.

FAQs

What does "investigated" mean?

"Investigated" means to have carried out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of an incident, allegation, etc. to establish the truth.

How can I use "investigated" in a sentence?

You can use "investigated" to describe an action taken to examine a situation, such as, "The police "looked into" the matter" or "The committee "examined" the report".

What are some synonyms for "investigated"?

Synonyms for "investigated" include "examined", "looked into", "studied", "probed", and "researched". The best choice depends on the context.

When should I use "investigated" instead of "looked into"?

"Investigated" implies a more formal and thorough inquiry than "looked into". Use "investigated" when referring to official or systematic examinations, while "looked into" is suitable for more casual or preliminary inquiries.