investigation into something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "investigation into something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the process of examining or inquiring into a particular subject or issue. Example: "The investigation into the financial discrepancies revealed several irregularities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He described the "heavy handed police investigation" into something that happened when he was a 24-year-old junior reporter as a "nightmare".

The Guardian

Why launch an investigation into something that nearly everyone in U.S. politics — save one notable exception — doesn't believe warrants an investigation?

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That you can't commit a crime in obstructing investigations into something that wasn't a crime?

The New York Times

Investigation Into Kavanaugh Has Ended.

The New York Times

It could be an investigation into tampering — something the Lakers' front office has been fined for twice in the last two years.

Los Angeles Times

The investigation has turned into something of a soap opera, with raids of bank offices by special police squads, leaks of testimony to news outlets and, last week, incendiary nationalist speeches in the Senate demanding that three leading bankers -- Emilio Cárdenas of HSBC, Carlos Giovanelli of Citibank and Manuel Sacerdote of Bank Boston -- be prosecuted for treason.

The New York Times

Day 6 — Jan . 25 Trump said he'd order a "major investigation" into voter fraud, something proven to be exceedingly rare, occurring during an election that he won.

Vice

Rios doesn't shed the hardboiled demeanor earned through fifteen years of murder investigations, but it softens into something more accommodating of durable love for the ragtag community he forms.

The New Yorker

But the safeguards lie not in measures that make it impossible for police to complete an investigation into terrorist activities - something which would not protect but harm all our civil liberties - but in ensuring that the rights of a person detained are protected through drawing upon our traditions of impartial judicial oversight and parliamentary accountability.

The Guardian

As the Guardian explained as part of its weeklong investigation into gun control, attempting something similar in the US would not only prompt what gun rights supporters have called a "civil war", it would require buying some 90m guns at a cost that could be in the billions.

The Guardian

"Our initial investigation into sex for flights revealed something bigger," Mr. Bello said Monday by telephone.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "investigation into something", ensure that the "something" is clearly defined and relevant to the context. Ambiguity can weaken the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid phrasing like "an investigation into something was launched" when an active voice construction (e.g. "the authorities launched an investigation into something") would be more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "investigation into something" functions as a prepositional phrase, where "investigation" acts as a noun and "into" is a preposition indicating direction or focus. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "investigation into something" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to denote a formal inquiry or examination of a specific issue. Ludwig AI validates its usage. While relatively rare, it is most commonly found in news and media, scientific, and academic contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity in defining the "something" being investigated and avoid overusing passive voice. Consider "inquiry concerning something" or "probe regarding something" as possible alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inquiry concerning something

Replaces "investigation" with "inquiry" and uses "concerning" instead of "into", offering a slightly more formal tone.

probe regarding something

Substitutes "investigation" with "probe" and "into" with "regarding", suggesting a more thorough and detailed examination.

examination of something

Replaces "investigation into" with "examination of", focusing on the act of careful inspection.

study of something

Uses "study" instead of "investigation", implying a more academic or research-oriented approach.

exploration of something

Replaces "investigation" with "exploration", suggesting a discovery-driven approach.

analysis of something

Focuses on breaking down and understanding the components of "something" rather than just investigating.

review of something

Implies a formal assessment or evaluation of "something".

scrutiny of something

Highlights a critical and detailed examination of "something".

audit of something

Suggests a systematic and official examination of records or accounts related to "something".

fact-finding mission concerning something

Emphasizes the objective of uncovering facts related to "something" using "mission" to signal a specific task.

FAQs

How can I use "investigation into something" in a sentence?

You can use "investigation into something" when referring to an inquiry or examination of a particular issue. For example, "The police launched an investigation into something suspicious."

What's a formal alternative to "investigation into something"?

A more formal alternative is "inquiry concerning something". This phrasing is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is "probe into something" similar to "investigation into something"?

Yes, "probe regarding something" is quite similar to "investigation into something". A "probe" suggests a more detailed and thorough inquiry.

How does "scrutiny of something" differ from "investigation into something"?

"Scrutiny" implies a critical and detailed examination. While an "investigation" aims to uncover facts, "scrutiny of something" emphasizes careful and potentially critical assessment.