investigated them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "investigated them" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of examining or inquiring into a person or group, often in a formal or legal context. Example: "The authorities investigated them for potential involvement in the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

In order to facilitate investigation of future therapies for the tumours in Men1+/− mice, we investigated them for SSTR2 (Fig. 5B) and VEGF-A (Fig. 5C) expression.

Endocrine-Related Cancer

"We had investigated them back in 2009.

The New York Times

His agents handcuffed Wall Street arbitrageurs before prosecutors investigated them.

The New York Times

In June, Mr. Bloomberg said his company took misconduct allegations very seriously and investigated them.

The New York Times

Presidents Nixon, Reagan, and Clinton all denigrated the counsels who investigated them.

The New Yorker

Mr. Bloomberg said the company took misconduct allegations very seriously and investigated them thoroughly.

The New York Times

Republicans in Congress have investigated them while other Republicans have appealed to the Federal Election Commission.

The New York Times

Yet no one ever joins up the dots and says it is time we investigated them nationally.

The Guardian - Opinion

The two others have remained in Haitian custody as the judge in their case investigated them further.

The New York Times

But one of Britain's top officers has criticised Hayman for dining with News International executives as his force investigated them for alleged criminal offences.

The Guardian

Over and over again, when someone acts out, the FBI has already investigated them, so clearly the FBI has all the authority they need," German said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "investigated them", ensure the context clearly indicates who conducted the investigation and what the scope of the investigation was. Specificity enhances clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "investigated them" in very casual conversations or writing; alternatives like "looked into them" or "checked them out" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "investigated them" functions as a verb phrase, where "investigated" is the transitive verb indicating an inquiry or examination, and "them" is the pronoun acting as the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

40%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "investigated them" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase, primarily functioning to indicate a formal inquiry or examination. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility spans across various contexts, with a noticeable prevalence in news and media, as well as in scientific domains. The phrase maintains a neutral to formal register, making it suitable for professional communications and academic writing. While "investigated them" is widely applicable, it is important to be mindful of the register and choose alternative phrases like "looked into them" in more informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

examined them

Focuses more on visual or detailed inspection rather than a formal inquiry.

looked into them

Implies a less formal and perhaps preliminary inquiry.

inquired into them

More formal way of saying "looked into them".

studied them

Suggests a more academic or in-depth analysis.

researched them

Implies a systematic investigation, often for academic or scientific purposes.

scrutinized them

Implies a very careful and critical examination.

probed them

Suggests a deep and thorough investigation, often looking for hidden issues.

assessed them

Focuses on evaluating the qualities or value of something.

checked them out

Informal; implies a quick or cursory examination.

surveyed them

Suggests a broad but perhaps less detailed examination.

FAQs

How can I use "investigated them" in a sentence?

You can use "investigated them" to describe a formal inquiry or examination, as in "The police "investigated them" for fraud" or "Scientists "investigated them" to understand the new virus strain".

What are some alternatives to "investigated them"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "examined them", "looked into them", or "researched them".

When is it appropriate to use "investigated them" instead of "checked them out"?

"Investigated them" is more appropriate in formal or serious contexts, such as legal or scientific inquiries. "Checked them out" is suitable for informal situations where a quick look is sufficient.

What is the difference between "investigated them" and "scrutinized them"?

"Investigated them" implies a general inquiry, while "scrutinized them" suggests a very detailed and critical examination, often looking for flaws or inconsistencies.