is investigating something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is investigating something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an ongoing inquiry or examination into a particular issue or subject matter. Example: "The police is investigating something related to the recent theft in the neighborhood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The S.E.C. can obtain an agreement to stop the statute of limitations, known as tolling, from those it is investigating, something it has done in the past.

The New York Times

In ongoing research, the psychologist Tali Sharot is investigating something known as "optimism bias": we think the future is going to be better than the past.

The New Yorker

Craig, struggling to care for Alfie alone while Sophie is away for the weekend, suspects the Doctor is investigating something alien.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We were investigating something very seriously.

The New York Times - Arts

"I'm investigating something we don't think about when we go to the deli," she said.

The New York Times

"The idea that you were investigating something completely new and that you could come up with your own experiments to figure things out was amazing".

The Guardian

He said that he had received numerous calls the day after the firings and was investigating "something" indirectly related to the meeting.

The New York Times

As for how the affair came to light, the Congressional official said that "it was portrayed to us that the F.B.I. was investigating something else and came upon him.

The New York Times

Gleeson is certainly your provincial Garda and Cheadle the uptight FBI import; the actual crime they're investigating – something to do with drug trafficking – is difficult to take seriously, but casual racism and Americanisation are cleverly worked into a self-aware subversion of the Lethal Weapon premise, shot through with warmth and wit.

The Guardian - Film

Bowden would not elaborate, but Dockett's lawyer, Stephen Dobson, told The Tallahassee Democrat that the police were investigating something that happened at a store in Governor's Square Mall in Tallahassee, Fla. Dockett started all 13 games for Florida State and led the defensive line in tackles with 58.

The New York Times - Sports

She added: "The current issue is should somebody be investigating something in which their brother has been named, however much in due course he may be exculpated?

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is investigating something" when describing an ongoing process of inquiry, especially when the exact nature or details are still being uncovered. It's appropriate for scenarios where there's a degree of uncertainty or mystery.

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences in a way that obscures who is conducting the investigation. Instead of "something is being investigated", specify who is investigating: "The police are investigating something."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is investigating something" functions as a verb phrase indicating an ongoing inquiry or examination. It describes an action being performed to uncover or understand unknown details, as illustrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is investigating something" is a grammatically sound and generally acceptable way to describe an ongoing inquiry or examination. As per Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys that efforts are being made to uncover details or understand a particular situation. While relatively uncommon, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, wiki and scientific discussions. Alternative phrases like "is looking into something" or "is examining something" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression. A best practice is to use the active voice rather than the passive to maintain clarity. Remember that the phrase should be used whenever something is being thoroughly inquired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is looking into something

Replaces "investigating" with "looking into", implying a less formal or preliminary examination.

is probing something

Substitutes "investigating" with "probing", suggesting a more in-depth and thorough examination.

is examining something

Replaces "investigating" with "examining", indicating a careful and detailed inspection.

is inquiring into something

Substitutes "investigating" with "inquiring into", adding a slightly more formal tone.

is researching something

Replaces "investigating" with "researching", implying a more academic or systematic study.

is exploring something

Substitutes "investigating" with "exploring", suggesting a more open-ended and exploratory approach.

is checking out something

Replaces "investigating" with "checking out", making the phrase more informal.

is analyzing something

Substitutes "investigating" with "analyzing", focusing on a detailed examination of the components.

is scrutinizing something

Replaces "investigating" with "scrutinizing", implying a critical and detailed examination.

is delving into something

Substitutes "investigating" with "delving into", suggesting a deep and thorough exploration.

FAQs

What does "is investigating something" mean?

The phrase "is investigating something" means that someone or some entity is currently conducting a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of an incident, allegation etc.

What can I say instead of "is investigating something"?

You can use alternatives like "is looking into something", "is probing something", or "is examining something" depending on the context.

Is "is investigating something" formal or informal?

The phrase "is investigating something" has a neutral to slightly formal tone. It's suitable for news reports, professional communications, and general discussions.

How to use "is investigating something" in a sentence?

You can use "is investigating something" to describe any situation where an inquiry is ongoing, such as "The police is investigating something related to the recent theft" or "The company is investigating something that happened with the stocks".