undertake investigation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undertake investigation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of beginning or engaging in an inquiry or examination of a particular subject or issue. Example: "The committee decided to undertake investigation into the allegations of misconduct."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I know that that causes significant disruption and I thank travellers and drivers for their patience but we have to close the bridge for reasons of safety to undertake investigation and repairs, and therefore I would advise the travelling public to avoid travelling if they were going to use the Forth Road Bridge tomorrow".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

That program, established by executive order in 1947, assigned the F.B.I. and other agencies to undertake investigations of employees suspected of disloyalty.

The New Yorker

It does not have the power to bring cases but can undertake investigations and then send the evidence to the judiciary, which has the power to pursue criminal charges.

The New York Times

"That is, after all, why we set up an independent ethics committee with an investigatory chamber that has all necessary means to undertake investigations on its own initiative".

BBC

The legislation also creates a new oversight role for an Investigatory Powers Commissioner: a senior judge, appointed by the Prime Minister, who will audit agencies' compliance with the legislation and undertake investigations into use of the powers.

TechCrunch

A pragmatic approach is to only undertake investigations if the findings would influence clinical decisions.

BMC Cancer

The challenge for clinicians and researchers working in community and primary care settings is to design and undertake investigations that test multi-component interventions for this population.

BMC Geriatrics

Rule-based mistakes commonly involved junior doctors deciding to undertake investigations, such as an electrocardiogram, prior to assessing the patient's airway patency.

BMC Medical Education

Taking into account these leads and the analysis of the influence of substituent on the ring we have undertaken investigation into cytotoxicity of 1b– 7b synthesized stilbenes.

BioMed Research International

We undertook investigation of polymorphic alleles within cytokine genes in PTLD and non-PTLD transplant cohorts to determine risk factors for disease.

British Journal of Cancer

"I spend a lot of time in the villages undertaking investigations," Mr. Yao said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undertake investigation", ensure the context is formal or semi-formal. It is especially suitable when describing official or structured inquiries.

Common error

Avoid using "undertake investigation" in casual or informal conversations. Simpler alternatives like "look into" or "check out" are more appropriate for everyday use.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undertake investigation" functions as a verb phrase where "undertake" acts as a transitive verb taking "investigation" as its direct object. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in written English, typically indicating the initiation of an inquiry.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undertake investigation" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase signifying the commencement of an inquiry or examination. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is well-suited for formal contexts, frequently appearing in news, science, and official reports. While alternatives like "conduct an inquiry" or "carry out an investigation" exist, "undertake investigation" maintains a distinct formality. When writing, consider the register and avoid using this phrase in casual conversation; simpler alternatives may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conduct an inquiry

Emphasizes a formal and systematic process of asking questions and gathering information.

carry out an investigation

Focuses on the execution and completion of the investigative process.

launch an investigation

Highlights the commencement or initiation of the investigative process.

initiate an inquiry

Stresses the starting point of a formal questioning or examination.

start an investigation

A more straightforward and less formal way of expressing the beginning of an investigation.

perform an investigation

Highlights the act of executing or enacting the investigative procedures.

probe into

Suggests a more in-depth and detailed examination, often implying a search for hidden or obscure information.

look into

An informal way of saying investigate, suitable for casual contexts.

delve into

Implies a thorough and exhaustive investigation, often with a focus on uncovering complex or obscure details.

explore the matter

Suggests a broader and less structured approach to understanding a particular issue or situation.

FAQs

How can I use "undertake investigation" in a sentence?

You can use "undertake investigation" to describe the process of starting an inquiry, as in, "The committee decided to undertake investigation into the allegations of misconduct."

What can I say instead of "undertake investigation"?

You can use alternatives like "conduct an inquiry", "carry out an investigation", or "launch an investigation" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "undertake investigation" or "do an investigation"?

"Undertake investigation" is more formal and typically preferred in professional or official contexts. "Do an investigation" is grammatically correct but less formal.

What's the difference between "undertake investigation" and "look into"?

"Undertake investigation" implies a formal and structured inquiry, while "look into" suggests a more casual and less structured examination.