investigation
investigation — noun
1. An official process in which police or other authorities examine a crime, accide
An official process in which police or other authorities examine a crime, accident, or suspicious event to discover what happened and who was responsible.
The police launched an investigation into the bank robbery after several witnesses called the station.
collocation: launch an investigation into [something]
Detective Andrés led the investigation that finally solved the case of the stolen paintings.
Two officers are under investigation for their actions during the protest last month.
The government ordered an independent investigation into the cause of the factory fire.
- probe
More informal and often used in journalism; suggests a deep, sometimes aggressive search.
- inquiry
Slightly more formal; often used for official, fact-finding processes, especially in British English.
- examination
Broader in meaning; can be used for any careful look, not just legal or official matters.
文法句型
investigation into [something]
investigation of [something]
under investigation
用法筆記
Often used with the verbs 'launch', 'conduct', 'carry out', or 'open' to describe the start of the process. The preposition 'into' introduces the subject of the investigation (e.g. 'an investigation into the accident'). Frequently appears in passive form 'under investigation' to indicate someone is being examined for possible wrongdoing.
常見錯誤
2. A careful and detailed examination of a subject, carried out using a planned met
A careful and detailed examination of a subject, carried out using a planned method, especially in science or academia, to discover new facts or test ideas.
Dr. Zola published the results of her ten-year investigation into the effects of ocean pollution on coral reefs.
collocation: investigation into [a topic]
The university funded a scientific investigation of the link between sleep and memory.
grammar: investigation of [something]
Further investigation of the data showed that temperature changes alone could not explain the results.
The research team's investigation revealed that the ancient tool was used for cutting wood, not hunting.
- research
Broader in scope; ongoing work to discover new knowledge, not necessarily a single study.
- study
Can refer to the process or the published report; slightly less formal than 'investigation' in academic contexts.
- analysis
Focuses on examining the parts of something; often quantitative and data-driven.
文法句型
investigation of [something]
investigation into [topic]
investigation + that-clause
用法筆記
In academic writing, 'investigation' often collocates with 'further', 'systematic', and 'empirical'. It is frequently followed by 'of' when referring to the subject area, or 'into' for a more specific question. The verb 'carry out' is the most common partner in formal research contexts.
常見錯誤
3. The act of carefully looking into a situation, claim, or problem to find out the
The act of carefully looking into a situation, claim, or problem to find out the facts or truth.
On closer investigation, the journalist discovered that the company had been hiding its losses for years.
phrase: on closer investigation
Bao did his own investigation before accepting a job offer from the overseas firm.
A thorough investigation of the hospital's records revealed mistakes in patient billing.
The matter deserves further investigation before the committee makes a final decision.
- examination
A more general term; can be quick or thorough, formal or casual.
- scrutiny
Suggests very close, critical attention; often implies suspicion.
- review
Often suggests looking back over existing information rather than discovering new facts.
文法句型
investigation into [situation]
investigation of [claim]
on investigation
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense does not necessarily involve authorities or the law. It can be used for personal fact-checking, journalistic digging, or any careful effort to establish the truth of a situation.