investigated to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "investigated to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it lacks a direct object or a clear context that specifies what is being investigated or the purpose of the investigation. Example: "The case was investigated to determine the cause of the incident."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Each case should be investigated to the full extent possible.

The New York Times

MI5 investigated to see if Adebowale posed a threat.

The Guardian

Five other cases are being investigated to find out how and where the patients were infected.

The Guardian

That is why we are ensuring that they are investigated to establish the facts".

The Guardian

I have since received, and investigated to my satisfaction, an even more shocking case".

The Guardian

It was resolved quickly and the fault will be investigated to ensure it doesn't happen again.

The Guardian - Sport

That very day, Amazon suspended Price for behavior that had been investigated to no visible effect two years earlier.

The New Yorker

The causes of variation need to be investigated to ensure care is never a gamble," added McNamara.

The Guardian

Igor Luksic, the prime minister, insists that corruption "must be investigated to the end".

The Economist

Soon after, he had her family investigated, to check that her bloodlines were Aryan.

The New York Times

Their travels were also investigated to see if their paths could have really crossed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "investigated to", ensure the sentence clearly indicates the purpose or outcome of the investigation. Rewrite the sentence to include a more explicit connector such as "in order to" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "investigated to" without clearly stating what the investigation aims to achieve. For example, instead of "The incident was investigated to", specify the purpose: "The incident was investigated to determine the cause."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "investigated to" functions as a purpose connector, indicating the reason or objective behind an investigation. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is often grammatically incorrect and can lack clarity. It is more common to use a clearer construction such as "investigated in order to" or "investigated with the aim of".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

58%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "investigated to" frequently appears across diverse sources, including news media and scientific literature. However, it's important to acknowledge that it is often considered grammatically incorrect, as Ludwig AI suggests. This is primarily due to the lack of a clear and direct statement of purpose. For more precise and unambiguous writing, consider replacing "investigated to" with phrases like "investigated in order to", "examined to determine", or "researched to understand". While "investigated to" is common, clarity and grammatical accuracy are crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

investigated in order to

Replaces 'to' with 'in order to' to explicitly state the purpose of the investigation, enhancing clarity.

examined to determine

Substitutes 'investigated' with 'examined' and clearly indicates the goal of finding something out.

researched to understand

Uses 'researched' instead of 'investigated' and specifies the aim of gaining understanding.

studied to assess

Employs 'studied' to replace 'investigated' and emphasizes the evaluation aspect.

analyzed to evaluate

Replaces 'investigated' with 'analyzed' and specifies the goal of evaluating something.

probed to reveal

Uses 'probed' instead of 'investigated' to suggest a deeper, more thorough inquiry aimed at uncovering information.

scrutinized to verify

Substitutes 'investigated' with 'scrutinized', highlighting a careful and critical examination for the purpose of verification.

checked to confirm

Replaces 'investigated' with 'checked' and clearly states the purpose is confirmation.

explored to discover

Uses 'explored' instead of 'investigated' to convey a sense of discovery and new findings.

reviewed to ascertain

Replaces 'investigated' with 'reviewed', emphasizing a formal assessment to ascertain specific facts.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "investigated to" in a sentence?

While "investigated to" is frequently used, it often sounds awkward. Enhance clarity by using phrases like "investigated in order to", as in: "The matter was investigated in order to determine the extent of the damage."

What are some alternatives to "investigated to"?

Consider using stronger and more precise alternatives such as "examined to determine", "researched to understand", or "analyzed to evaluate" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "investigated to determine" and "investigated in order to determine"?

"Investigated in order to determine" is grammatically clearer and more explicit than "investigated to determine". The inclusion of "in order to" makes the purpose of the investigation more direct and understandable.

When is it appropriate to use "investigated to" instead of other alternatives?

While "investigated to" is frequently encountered, it's best to opt for more grammatically precise options like "investigated in order to" or rephrase the sentence for improved clarity. This ensures your writing remains professional and easily understood.