How to use "under investigation"

What Does "under investigation" Mean?

• The phrase "under investigation" signifies that a person, event, or situation is currently the subject of a formal inquiry or examination, typically by authorities or a designated body.
• The meaning is compositional. "Under" indicates a state or condition, and "investigation" refers to the act of systematically examining something. Together, they describe the state of being examined.
• Register: Neutral to formal. It's commonly used in news reports, legal contexts, and official statements.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: Adjective + Noun (specifically, a preposition + noun acting as an adjective modifying a noun).
• Typical objects: The phrase is most often followed by a noun referring to the subject of the investigation, such as "case," "incident," "matter," "person," "company," etc. The object typically precedes "under investigation," as in "The case is under investigation."
• The components cannot be separated. You cannot insert words between "under" and "investigation" without changing the meaning or making the sentence ungrammatical.
• What sounds unnatural: Using the phrase with an inappropriate noun (e.g., "The weather is under investigation") or using it in a context where a simpler adjective would suffice (e.g., instead of saying, 'the matter is being under investigation', say 'the matter is under investigation').

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from under investigation on Ludwig.guru.

"The case is under investigation." — The New York Times

"The shootings remain under investigation." — The New York Times

"He is also under investigation." — Independent

"The motive remains under investigation." — The New York Times

"Repeat, not under investigation!" — The New York Times

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/under+investigation

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
being investigated	A more direct, verb-based alternative, using the passive voice.
subject to inquiry	More formal and emphasizes the process of questioning.
under scrutiny	Implies close and critical examination, often suggesting suspicion.
being looked into	Less formal, suitable for casual conversation.
under review	Suggests a more general assessment or evaluation, not necessarily implying wrongdoing.
subject of an investigation	A more verbose but grammatically equivalent option.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect verb form: Using a continuous verb form like "is being under investigation" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "is under investigation."
• Wrong preposition: Using a different preposition, such as "in investigation" or "on investigation," is incorrect.
• Redundancy: Learners often confuse this with similar phrases or use it incorrectly in a context where a simpler adjective would be more appropriate, like saying 'the matter is being under investigation' instead of 'the matter is under investigation'.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
under investigation	Being formally examined or inquired into.	Adjective + Noun	Neutral to Formal

FAQs

Can the words "under" and "investigation" be separated in the phrase?

No, the phrase "under investigation" functions as a fixed unit. Inserting words between them would disrupt the meaning and grammatical correctness of the sentence. For example, you can't say "The case is under serious investigation" - instead, "The case is the subject of a serious investigation" is more appropriate.

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How is "under investigation" different from "being investigated"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "under investigation" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying the noun (e.g., "The case is under investigation"). "Being investigated" is a verb phrase in the passive voice, placing more emphasis on the action of investigating (e.g., "The case is being investigated"). The choice often depends on stylistic preference and the desired emphasis.

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Is it correct to say "The matter is being under investigation"?

No, the correct phrasing is "The matter is under investigation." The inclusion of "being" creates a redundant and grammatically incorrect construction. The phrase "under investigation" already implies a state of ongoing inquiry, so adding "being" is unnecessary.