Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination vs Investigating

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)

Investigating

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination
 Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examinationInvestigating
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //kənˈdʌktɪŋ ə ˈθʌrə enʌf ˈkrɒsˌɛksəmɪˈneɪʃən//🇺🇸 //kənˈdʌktɪŋ ə ˈθɜːroʊ ɪˈnʌf ˈkrɔsˌɛksəˌmeɪʃən//🇬🇧 //ɪnˈvɛstɪɡeɪtɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ɪnˈvɛstɪɡeɪtɪŋ//
Meaningasking detailed questions to check someone's truthfulness.Looking into something to find out more about it.
ExampleThe lawyer began conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination to reveal inconsistencies.The police are investigating the recent theft in the area.
RegisterFormalNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Collocationsconducting a cross-examination, thorough examination, cross-examination techniquesinvestigating a case, investigating further, investigating a situation, investigating options, actively investigating
Antonyms-ignoring, neglecting, overlooking
Common mistakesMisunderstanding 'cross-examination' as general questioning., Using 'thorough' incorrectly as a noun instead of an adjective., Confusing 'conducting' with 'leading'.Confusing with 'invest' which relates to finance., Using 'investigating' in passive voice incorrectly., Omitting the object after 'investigating'.
Usage notesUsed in legal contexts; avoid in casual conversations. Appropriate for courtroom discussions but too complex for informal settings.Often used in formal contexts like police work or research, but can also be informal when discussing casual inquiries.

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Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination
Investigating

Frequently asked questions: Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination vs Investigating

What's the difference between Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination and Investigating?

Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination: asking detailed questions to check someone's truthfulness. Investigating: Looking into something to find out more about it.

Which is more formal: Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination and Investigating?

Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination is the most formal of these.

Can you show an example of each?

Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination: The lawyer began conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination to reveal inconsistencies. Investigating: The police are investigating the recent theft in the area.

Can I use Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination and Investigating interchangeably?

Not always. Conducting a thorough-enough cross-examination and Investigating are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.