starting investigating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "starting investigating" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "starting to investigate." Example: "I am starting to investigate the causes of the issue we encountered last week."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Following a complaint by the Labour MP John Mann, the parliamentary commissioner for standards starting investigating the case in 2013.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department started investigating AOL, and the company began its own internal investigation.

The New York Times

At the Yomiuri, Adelstein started investigating Goto.

The New Yorker

Brinkley started investigating, she told me.

The New Yorker

The bureau started investigating, using the Yemeni as the informer.

The New York Times

So then we start investigating the sweet potential of vegetables".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They should have started investigating rather than waiting".

The Guardian

State officials have also started investigating the problem.

The New York Times

So I started investigating how to create that bridge.

The New York Times

Tom Walsh, an Austin cold case detective, started investigating.

The New York Times

North Korea said last Friday that it had started investigating the claims.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "starting to investigate" instead of "starting investigating". The infinitive form "to investigate" is grammatically correct after "starting".

Common error

Avoid omitting the word "to" between "starting" and "investigating". The correct structure is "starting to investigate", not "starting investigating".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "starting investigating" functions as a gerund phrase, but it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI suggests, the correct form is "starting to investigate".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "starting investigating" aims to convey the commencement of an investigation, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms the proper form is "starting to investigate". Predominantly found in news and media contexts, this phrase, though infrequent, intends to communicate the initiation of an investigative process. Remember to use the correct grammatical structure, or explore alternative phrases such as "beginning to investigate" or "launching an inquiry" for clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beginning to investigate

Uses a more standard "to + infinitive" construction after "beginning".

commencing investigation

Uses the more formal word "commencing" instead of "starting", and a noun instead of a verb.

initiating an investigation

Replaces "starting" with "initiating" and uses the noun form "investigation".

launching an inquiry

Uses "launching" to convey the start of an investigation, and replaces "investigation" with "inquiry".

opening an investigation

Uses "opening" to describe the start of the process.

starting to look into

Uses a phrasal verb "look into" as a less formal alternative to "investigate".

beginning to look into

Combines the formal "beginning to" with the phrasal verb "look into" for a mixed tone.

starting to probe

Replaces "investigating" with the verb "probe", implying a careful and thorough examination.

undertaking an investigation

Uses "undertaking" to mean starting or beginning an investigation.

embarking on an investigation

Uses "embarking" to convey starting a journey of investigation.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "starting investigating"?

The grammatically correct way is "starting to investigate". Alternatively, you can use phrases like "beginning to investigate" or "commencing investigation".

Is "starting investigating" grammatically correct?

No, "starting investigating" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "starting to investigate". The "to" is required to connect the verb "starting" with the infinitive form of "investigate".

What are some synonyms for "starting to investigate"?

Some synonyms include "beginning to investigate", "initiating an investigation", and "launching an inquiry".

How can I avoid making the mistake of saying "starting investigating"?

Always remember to include "to" after "starting" when followed by a verb. Think of it as "starting to" do something. If you are unsure, consider using alternative phrases like "beginning to investigate".