launch an investigation

USAGE SUMMARY

"launch an investigation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase whenever you want to indicate that you're beginning a process of inquiry into a situation. For example, "The mayor announced that they would be launching an investigation into the city's financial records."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It should launch an investigation, and disclose the full findings to the public.

Huffington Post

Congress is sure to launch an investigation.

The New Yorker

German prosecutors launch an investigation of Winterkorn.

The Guardian - Business

The police could decide to launch an investigation anyway.

The Guardian

City regulators launch an investigation into the share price movements.

The Guardian - Business

MUIR: You say you're going to launch an investigation.

The New Yorker

It's understood that the FA are to launch an investigation into the incident.

Independent

"Their policy dictates that they step down the priest and launch an investigation," Ms. Vercellotti said.

The New York Times

The growing storm over Obokata's research prompted Riken to launch an investigation into her work.

The Guardian

The police are studying footage of the incident, and the Football Association will launch an investigation.

The Guardian - Sport

Local police did not even launch an investigation into the murder of the Malcolms and Dorseys.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "launch an investigation", ensure the context clearly indicates who is initiating the investigation and what the scope of the investigation entails. For example, "The police will launch an investigation into the alleged fraud."

Common error

Avoid using passive voice constructions that obscure who is responsible for launching the investigation. Instead of saying "An investigation was launched", specify who launched it: "The committee launched an investigation."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "launch an investigation" functions as a verbal phrase used to describe the action of initiating a formal inquiry or examination into a specific matter. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "launch an investigation" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig, employed to signify the commencement of a formal inquiry. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase serves to report the start of investigations into various matters. While maintaining a neutral tone suitable for professional communication, one should strive to specify clearly who is instigating the investigation to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "initiate a probe" or "commence an inquiry" can be used to inject subtle variations in tone or formality. Remember to keep in mind Ludwig's examples to use the query in your text in the best way.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initiate a probe

Replaces "investigation" with "probe", implying a more focused and potentially discreet inquiry.

open an inquiry

Uses "open" as a synonym for "launch", creating a slightly different emphasis.

commence an inquiry

"Commence" and "inquiry" offer a slightly more formal tone than "launch" and "investigation".

undertake a review

Suggests a comprehensive examination rather than a formal investigation, implying a less adversarial approach.

set up a commission of inquiry

Implies a more formal and structured investigation, often involving multiple individuals or experts.

begin a fact-finding mission

Emphasizes the objective of gathering information and establishing the truth.

instigate an assessment

"Instigate" emphasizes the act of setting the investigation in motion, while "assessment" suggests a more evaluative approach.

start an audit

Specifically refers to a financial or procedural examination.

form a task force

Implies bringing together a group of people to deal with a specific problem, which will require investigation to get to the problem's root.

conduct due diligence

Refers to a thorough investigation undertaken to ensure compliance and mitigate risk.

FAQs

How can I use "launch an investigation" in a sentence?

Use "launch an investigation" to describe the beginning of a formal inquiry. For example, "The company decided to launch an investigation into the data breach".

What are some alternatives to "launch an investigation"?

You can use alternatives such as "initiate a probe", "commence an inquiry", or "undertake a review" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "start an investigation" instead of "launch an investigation"?

Yes, "start an investigation" is grammatically correct and conveys a similar meaning. However, "launch an investigation" often implies a more formal or official commencement of the inquiry.

What's the difference between "launch an investigation" and "conduct an investigation"?

"Launch an investigation" refers to the beginning of the investigative process, whereas "conduct an investigation" refers to the ongoing activities involved in carrying out the investigation.