investigating about

USAGE SUMMARY

Investigating about is not technically a part of a sentence in written English.
However, it can be used as an introductory phrase in a sentence. For example: "Investigating about the potential effects of global warming, scientists concluded that..."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Aside from the ongoing federal investigation, the Ethics Commission is investigating about 19 firms, lawyers and lobbyists and their relationships and the fee arrangements with Mr. Silvester, 38, who is still giving information to federal investigators and has yet to be sentenced.

The New York Times

In Italy, meanwhile, authorities are investigating about 700 names that also appeared on the HSBC list.

The New York Times

Mr. Pinheiro said the panel was investigating about 20 massacres, some of them apparently committed by the insurgent side.

The New York Times

Ben Wogsland, a spokesman for Ms. Swanson, said she was investigating about a half-dozen other companies that buy debt.

The New York Times

Mr. Lee says that law enforcement agencies are investigating about a half-dozen other solar-panel thefts in his area.

The New York Times - Tech

NASD, the regulatory arm of the brokerage industry, is investigating about a dozen insurance companies and brokerage firms.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Corporate investigators are the professionals who investigate about the civil allegations and criminal activities in regard with company or organization.

WikiHow

The divers say they have investigated about half the underground river system.

The New York Times - Science

Most have been unfounded, they say, but they are continuing to investigate about 60 cases.

The Guardian

A resource-starved HMRC can only investigate about 35 wealthy individuals a year for tax evasion.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Spitzer's office will investigate about a dozen other companies that operate the remaining 2,400 buses.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "investigating about" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "investigating" or "looking into".

Common error

The verb "investigate" typically doesn't require the preposition "about". Using "investigating" alone is often sufficient. For example, instead of "investigating about a crime", say "investigating a crime".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "investigating about" functions as a verb phrase, attempting to describe the action of conducting an inquiry. However, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI notes, this is not technically part of a well formed English sentence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "investigating about" is frequently used but grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it appears in several contexts, including news and media, it's advisable to use more grammatically sound alternatives such as "investigating", "looking into", or "examining". This will ensure clarity and correctness in your writing. Although the phrase is "common", its correctness is disputed. It's better to err on the side of caution and use more appropriate vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conducting an investigation into

Expands the phrase for greater clarity and formality.

carrying out an inquiry into

Uses "inquiry" instead of "investigation" for a slightly different nuance.

looking into

Replaces "investigating about" with a phrasal verb indicating a preliminary examination.

inquiring into

Replaces "investigating about" with a more formal alternative.

examining

Offers a more formal synonym for investigating.

researching

Emphasizes the academic and systematic aspects of the investigation.

probing

Implies a more in-depth and thorough investigation.

delving into

Implies a deeper and more detailed exploration.

exploring

Suggests a broader and less focused investigation.

undertaking a study of

Shifts the focus to a systematic study rather than a direct investigation.

FAQs

Is "investigating about" grammatically correct?

No, "investigating about" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use "investigating" or alternative phrases like "looking into" or "examining".

What can I say instead of "investigating about"?

Instead of "investigating about", you can use alternatives like "investigating", "looking into", or "examining", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "investigating about" or "investigating"?

"Investigating" is the correct and more commonly accepted form. "Investigating about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "investigating about" and "inquiring into"?

"Investigating about" is generally considered incorrect, while "inquiring into" is a grammatically sound, albeit more formal, way to describe the act of examining something.