while I was investigating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "while I was investigating" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action that was happening concurrently with another action or event in the past. Example: "While I was investigating the case, I discovered several crucial pieces of evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

FM: I met Zé Cláudio and Maria in October 2010 while I was investigating the violence chain of pig iron production, based on illegal charcoal and timber.

The Guardian

Burchik hung up on me a lot in 2015, while I was investigating the Internet Research Agency, the shadowy Russian "troll farm" where, according to the indictment, Burchik has served as executive director.

The New Yorker

While I was investigating career opportunities outside research science, I came across an advertisement for a technical assistant (essentially a trainee patent attorney) at F. B. Rice & Co., applied more or less on a whim, and was lucky enough to be offered the position.

Science Magazine

Last summer, while I was investigating child labor on tobacco farms in the United States, I met dozens of children with similar stories.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That is a sharp break from this administration's usual practice of refusing to comment while it is investigating itself — and it is anything but reassuring.

The New York Times

The frat has had restrictions imposed on it while it is investigated, and U of M is planning educational forums.

Huffington Post

While Macpherson was investigating the murder, Ellison discovered that a police whistleblower had told his superiors about a corrupt colleague allegedly shielding Stephen's murderers.

The Guardian

In July 2014, NSW environment officer Glen Turner was shot and killed by farmer Ian Turnbull while he was investigating allegations of illegal land clearing.

The Guardian

They sent a spy named Kiefer to investigate, but communications were lost while he was investigating a uranium mine.

Wikipedia

While McMurray was investigating Romano's satirical activism to push a radical political agenda, the DPS was ignoring explicit threats from conservatives.

Huffington Post

While he was investigating the transaction, Ajamie had tried for months to meet with Weinstein to interview him, but to no avail.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "while I was investigating" to clearly indicate that an action occurred concurrently with your investigation. This helps establish a timeline and context for your findings.

Common error

Avoid using "while I was investigating" to describe actions that happened after the investigation concluded. "While" implies simultaneity, not sequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while I was investigating" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when an action occurred. Ludwig showcases its role in setting the temporal context for events or discoveries made during an investigative process.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

15%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "while I was investigating" functions as an adverbial clause of time, providing context to an action or discovery made during an investigation. Ludwig highlights that it is grammatically sound and serves to establish a timeline of events, particularly in news and media. It's usage is considered neutral in tone and can be replaced by alternatives like "during my investigation" or "as I researched", depending on the level of formality required. The Ludwig AI analysis confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during my investigation

Changes the structure to a prepositional phrase, emphasizing the period of investigation.

as I researched

Replaces "investigating" with a synonym, "researched", focusing on the research aspect.

in the course of my inquiry

Uses more formal language, replacing "investigating" with "inquiry".

whilst I was probing

Employs the word "probing" as a synonym for "investigating", adding a sense of thoroughness.

as I delved into

Replaces "investigating" with "delved into", suggesting a deeper examination.

while I conducted research

Uses the more formal "conducted research" instead of "investigating".

during the period I was examining

Expands the phrase to emphasize the timeframe of the examination.

as I carried out my inquiry

Replaces "investigating" with "carried out my inquiry", making it more formal.

in my process of discovery

Focuses on the "discovery" aspect of the investigation.

as part of my fact-finding mission

Highlights the fact-finding aspect of the investigation.

FAQs

How can I use "while I was investigating" in a sentence?

You can use "while I was investigating" to describe something that happened during the course of an investigation. For example, "While I was investigating the case, I uncovered new evidence."

What are some alternatives to "while I was investigating"?

Some alternatives include "during my investigation", "as I researched", or "in the course of my inquiry", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "whilst I was investigating" instead of "while I was investigating"?

Yes, "whilst I was investigating" is grammatically correct, but "while I was investigating" is more common in modern English. "Whilst" is often perceived as more formal or archaic.

What is the difference between "while I was investigating" and "when I investigated"?

"While I was investigating" implies that something happened during the investigation, concurrently. "When I investigated" suggests that something happened as a result of or after the investigation. The former emphasizes the timeframe, while the latter emphasizes the event's connection to the investigation.