investigations

USAGE SUMMARY

'investigations' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act of investigating or researching something carefully and thoroughly. Example: "The police are conducting investigations into possible suspects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was named Food Journalist of the Year and won the Derek Cooper award for campaigning and investigative food writing for her investigations into breakfast cereals and the dangers of Soya.

The Guardian

"We closed the park immediately whilst preliminary investigations took place and to give our staff time to come to terms with the accident and its aftermath.

The Guardian

Damning reports by human rights organisations cataloguing the dire living conditions for many workers tied to their employers by the kafala system and investigations by the Guardian resulted in an international outcry and criticism of Fifa for not doing more to bring pressure to bear.

The Guardian

"Because these incidents cannot be seen as isolated cases, the government of Mexico has called the Justice Department of the United States to follow the investigations of these cases through its Civil Rights Division and provide assurances that they are conducted with transparency and if necessary, that civil and criminal responsibilities are established," the foreign ministry said on Monday.

The Guardian

Mexico has called on the US Justice Department to monitor investigations into three US police shootings of Mexican nationals within the past month, arguing that the incidents "cannot be seen in an isolated manner".

The Guardian

And last but not least, the alleged 14 cases where the Metropolitan police terminated investigations that were implicating MPs and establishment figures and the 46 instances where similar cover-ups took place.

The Guardian

"As well as having fewer resources at its disposal than its predecessor, the legacy investigations branch cannot itself satisfy [human rights] requirements … because of its lack of independence from the police service.

The Guardian

"Investigations are ongoing to determine where this murder took place, and our priorities are to locate Mr Jokubauskas and identify the body.

The Guardian

Twin Swiss and US investigations focussing on a far-reaching culture of kickbacks in Fifa have thrown the congress in Zurich into chaos, including both the re-election bid of Fifa president Sepp Blatter and other business on the agenda including the Palestinian bid to have Israel suspended.

The Guardian

At least eight referrals to the police were made on the subject of asylum seeker stories, and active police investigations continue into a number of the referrals.

The Guardian

Allegations of corruption and illegal activity have led residents to protest, and city officials have called for investigations of contract violations.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "investigations", be specific about the type and scope, such as "criminal investigations" or "internal investigations", to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "investigations" without specifying the subject or context. For instance, instead of saying "The investigations are ongoing", specify "The police investigations into the robbery are ongoing."

Linguistic Context

The term "investigations" functions primarily as a noun, referring to the process of systematically or formally inquiring into or examining something so as to discover and examine the facts of an incident, allegation, etc. As shown by Ludwig, it indicates an organized effort to uncover information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "investigations" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe systematic inquiries or examinations. As Ludwig AI shows, it appears most commonly in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific contexts. When using the term, ensure you provide enough context to specify the type and scope of the "investigations" being discussed. Alternatives like "inquiries" or "probes" can be used depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inquiries

Formal term for seeking truth or information about something.

probes

Suggests a more thorough and in-depth examination.

examinations

Focuses on the process of looking closely and carefully.

audits

Refers to a systematic review, often in a financial context.

scrutinies

Implies a critical and detailed inspection.

assessments

Emphasizes evaluating the nature, quality, or ability of something.

research studies

Highlights the scientific and methodical aspect of the inquiry.

fact-finding missions

Specific to gathering information for decision-making.

internal reviews

Describes examinations conducted within an organization.

due diligence

Focuses on careful investigation before making a business decision.

FAQs

How do I use "investigations" in a sentence?

Use "investigations" to refer to a series of inquiries or formal examinations. For example, "The company is facing multiple "internal investigations" following the audit findings."

What can I say instead of "investigations"?

You can use alternatives like "inquiries", "probes", or "examinations" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "investigations" or "an investigation"?

"Investigations" is the plural form, used when referring to multiple inquiries. "An investigation" refers to a single inquiry. Choose the form that matches the number of inquiries you are describing.

What's the difference between "investigations" and "research"?

"Investigations" typically imply a formal or official inquiry, often into wrongdoing or a specific issue. "Research" is a broader term for systematic study and inquiry, not necessarily related to specific accusations or problems.