Guide 94 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “look into”
Five verbs that say what kind of looking.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Look into" is a soft promise — vague about depth or timing. "Investigate" is thorough; "examine" is careful; "review" implies existing material; "assess" is for judgment; "audit" is formal and full.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Investigate neutral
thorough inquiry
Investigate the cause of the outage.
- 02Examine neutral
careful inspection
Examine the logs for the failed job.
- 03Review neutral
go over existing material
Review the contract before signing.
- 04Assess neutral
evaluate and judge
Assess the risk profile of the vendor.
- 05Audit formal
formal, full examination
Audit the access logs for Q1.
iii · And what not to sayKeep this one
"Looking into it" from a manager signals a status without a commitment. If you mean "will investigate," say so.