looking for evidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking for evidence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are inquiring or searching for proof or information to support a claim or argument. Example: "The detective is looking for evidence to solve the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

McKinnon says he was looking for evidence of UFOs.

The Guardian

Scuba divers plunged into the frigid river, looking for evidence.

The New Yorker

Writer strolled around looking for evidence of this.

The New Yorker

I was looking for evidence of bribery and corruption.

The Guardian

Lee Barrett walked into a nightclub looking for evidence.

The New York Times

They were looking for evidence of primordial gravitational waves.

The Economist

In particular, they are looking for evidence of dark matter particles annihilating in distant space.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The medical detectives are also looking for evidence of contamination in her mail.

The New York Times

Mostly, Edward is poring over CCTV footage, studying emails, looking for evidence, building his case.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The questioners were looking for evidence of a conflict between ADAMS and local law enforcement.

The New Yorker

Fire marshals and arson and explosives investigators were still looking for evidence yesterday evening.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about investigations, use "looking for evidence" to indicate the active process of seeking information to support a claim or solve a mystery.

Common error

Avoid using "looking for evidence" in contexts where a general understanding or exploration is intended, rather than a specific search for supporting facts. Instead of "looking for evidence of happiness in his life," consider "exploring themes of happiness in his life".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking for evidence" primarily functions as a verb phrase often used as part of a larger sentence to describe an action. As Ludwig's examples show, it describes the process of actively seeking proof or information to support a claim or hypothesis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

24%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looking for evidence" is a very common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of seeking information or proof. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely applicable across various contexts, primarily in news, scientific, and academic settings. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that it aligns with the context of seeking specific supporting facts rather than general exploration. Alternatives such as "seeking evidence" or "searching for proof" can be used to add nuance or formality. Overall, "looking for evidence" is a versatile and reliable phrase for expressing the active pursuit of supporting information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seeking evidence

Replaces "looking" with "seeking", maintaining the core meaning with a more formal tone.

searching for proof

Substitutes "evidence" with "proof", emphasizing a higher degree of certainty being sought.

investigating to find evidence

Expands the phrase to include the action of investigating, clarifying the process involved.

examining for evidence

Replaces "looking" with "examining", suggesting a more detailed and methodical search.

probing for evidence

Uses "probing" to imply a more in-depth and potentially intrusive search for evidence.

trying to find evidence

Adds "trying" to highlight the effort involved in the search.

in search of evidence

Rephrases the expression with "in search of", creating a slightly more literary tone.

gathering evidence

Shifts the focus to the action of collecting evidence once it's found, rather than the search itself.

compiling evidence

Implies collecting evidence from multiple sources into one, structured list.

attempting to uncover evidence

Highlights the challenges and potential difficulty in finding the evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "looking for evidence" in a sentence?

Use "looking for evidence" to describe the act of searching for information or data that supports a particular claim or hypothesis. For example, "The detective is "looking for evidence" to solve the crime".

What are some alternatives to "looking for evidence"?

You can use alternatives such as "seeking evidence", "searching for proof", or "investigating to find evidence" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "looking for evidence" and "searching for evidence"?

While both phrases are similar, ""looking for evidence"" is slightly more informal and general, whereas "searching for evidence" implies a more systematic and thorough approach.

When is it appropriate to use "gathering evidence" instead of "looking for evidence"?

"Gathering evidence" is appropriate when you are referring to the act of collecting evidence that has already been found, while ""looking for evidence"" refers to the process of actively seeking it.