research on something

USAGE SUMMARY

"research on something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to the act of examining a topic in detail, often to gain new information or insights. For example: "The team conducted extensive research on the factors affecting consumer behavior."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"The State Department needs people who understand the difference between research on something dangerous and basic research," says Daniel Marlow, chairman of Princeton's physics department.

The New York Times

Life is important to us, and I think if we can cure Alzheimer's, if we can cure AIDS, if we can cure diabetes, if we can save millions of lives by doing research on something that may be destroyed anyway, that the balance is important".

The New York Times

It's the first time I'm really going to be doing original research on something related to the psychology of music.

Science Magazine

We'll do like a hundred hours of research on something and then someone else will do a blog post saying, 'oh I like this by the way.' And it's a totally esoteric find that was at the bottom of the barrel that turned out to be the best thing by twice and half the cost, and it's like, just link".

TechCrunch

"I am excited to do research on something that is applicable to the new community in which I live," states McFadden.

Huffington Post

I had an excuse to go to France to do some research on something, so I took off and went to France for a few weeks right in the middle of this process.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

(Why? Something something research).

TechCrunch

For example, if you like doing researches on something while your girlfriend likes to just sit around, doing nothing, you can't get along with her.

WikiHow

Most professors, he says, teach standard practice from a generic marketing book, for example—while spending their research time on something esoteric.

The Economist

Before the age of Twitter, Facebook and social news aggregation, draft research papers on something as complex as P ≠ NP would have gone through a rigorous academic process, which would focus on whether the proof strategy is correct, and whether the apparent errors are easily corrected.

TechCrunch

Their research focuses on something called the Fermi paradox, named after physicist Enrico Fermi.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and impact, replace "something" with specific nouns or phrases that describe the subject of the research. For example, instead of "research on something", specify "research on climate change", "research on artificial intelligence", or "research on consumer behavior".

Common error

Avoid using "research on something" when you have specific research parameters. Vague language reduces the impact of your communication. Be precise to enhance credibility and engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "research on something" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically acting as an adjunct to a verb or noun. It broadly indicates the subject matter of an investigation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable, although often improved by specifying 'something'.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "research on something" is grammatically correct but often benefits from greater specificity. As Ludwig AI explains, while usable, its generality may reduce clarity. It functions as a prepositional phrase to broadly define a research area. Its register is generally neutral to formal, and it appears most frequently in news, media, and scientific contexts. Consider replacing "something" with a concrete noun phrase, such as "research on climate change", to enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

investigation into a topic

Replaces "research" with "investigation" and "something" with "a topic" for a more formal tone.

study of a subject

Uses "study" instead of "research" and "subject" instead of "something", suggesting a more academic approach.

conducting a study on a subject

More verbose, clarifies "research" by using "conducting a study", emphasizes formal investigation.

exploration of an issue

Substitutes "research" with "exploration" and "something" with "an issue", implying a deeper, more exploratory inquiry.

performing an analysis of a topic

Uses "performing an analysis" to specify the type of research conducted, highlighting in-depth evaluation.

analysis of a phenomenon

Replaces "research" with "analysis" and "something" with "a phenomenon", indicating a more scientific or technical examination.

undertaking an investigation into a matter

Emphasizes the proactive nature of research by using "undertaking an investigation", denotes formal inquiry.

inquiry into a matter

Uses "inquiry" as a substitute for "research" and "matter" for "something", giving a more formal and investigative feel.

examining a question

Replaces "research" with "examining" and "something" with "a question", focusing on the act of scrutinizing a specific problem.

delving into a subject

Uses "delving into" to convey deeper exploration and immersion in the research process.

FAQs

How can I make "research on something" more specific?

Replace "something" with a specific topic or area of study. For example, instead of saying "research on something", you can say "research on renewable energy" or "research on Alzheimer's disease".

What are some alternatives to "research on something"?

You can use phrases like "investigation into a topic", "study of a subject", or "exploration of an issue" to convey a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "research on something"?

It's appropriate when you are referring to research in a general sense and the specific topic is either unknown or unimportant. However, it's generally better to be more specific whenever possible.

What's the difference between "research on something" and "studies about something"?

"Research on something" implies a formal investigation, while "studies about something" can refer to a broader range of investigations, including less formal ones. The subtle difference lies in the level of rigor and formality implied.