to look into

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to look into" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you are expressing taking an action or examining a situation. For example: "We are going to look into the matter a little more before making a decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The N.C.A.A. needs to look into that".

The New York Times - Sports

We'll have to look into that".

The New Yorker

"I need to look into your eyes.

The New Yorker

"Certainly NASA needs to look into this".

The New York Times - Science

"Then we started to look into details.

The New York Times

That's what you need to look into".

The New Yorker

"We want to look into this".

The New York Times

Is Congress right to look into that?

The New York Times

"We need to look into Planned Parenthood.

The Guardian

"Obviously, we have to look into everything.

The New York Times - Sports

"I shall have to look into that".

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to look into" when you want to convey a commitment to investigate or examine a matter further. It implies a proactive approach to understanding or resolving an issue. Be specific about what you intend to "look into" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "to look into" as a way to defer action without genuine intent. If you don't plan to take concrete steps, choose a different phrase that doesn't imply a follow-up investigation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to look into" functions as an infinitive phrase, commonly used as a verb complement or to express purpose. It indicates the act of investigating or examining something. Ludwig's examples show it is used to express intentions to examine something further.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Arts

4%

Sports

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the infinitive phrase "to look into" is a very common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate an intention to investigate or examine something. According to Ludwig, its aiResponseStatus is positive, confirming its correct usage in written English. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. When using "to look into", ensure that you are genuinely committed to the follow-up investigation to avoid conveying a false promise. While versatile, consider alternative phrases like "to investigate" or "to examine" to achieve subtle differences in tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to investigate

Focuses more on a formal or official inquiry.

to examine

Implies a closer, more detailed inspection.

to explore

Suggests a broader, less structured inquiry.

to research

Involves a systematic investigation to discover facts.

to inquire into

More formal and emphasizes the process of asking questions.

to delve into

Implies a deeper, more thorough examination.

to analyze

Implies a detailed examination of the elements or structure of something.

to check out

More informal, suggesting a casual investigation.

to consider

Focuses on thinking carefully about something.

to scrutinize

Suggests a very careful and critical examination.

FAQs

How can I use "to look into" in a sentence?

You can use "to look into" to express an intention to investigate or examine something, as in "The committee decided "to look into" the allegations" or "I'll "to look into" the matter and get back to you".

What are some alternatives to "to look into"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "to investigate", "to examine", or "to research" instead of "to look into".

Is it better to say "look into" or "investigate"?

"Look into" is generally less formal than "investigate". "Investigate" often implies a more thorough and official inquiry, while "look into" can refer to a more casual examination.

What does it mean "to look into" something?

"To look into" something means to examine or investigate it, often with the intention of discovering more information or resolving a problem. It suggests a proactive approach to understanding an issue.