Examine vs. Investigate

Attribute	Examine	Investigate
Definition	To inspect or scrutinize closely	To carry out a systematic inquiry or study
Depth	Usually involves a surface-level analysis	Usually involves a more thorough and in-depth analysis
Purpose	To observe or assess something	To gather information or evidence for a specific purpose
Scope	Can be more limited in scope	Can involve a broader scope of investigation
Method	May involve visual inspection or simple analysis	May involve research, interviews, data collection, etc.

Definition

Examine and investigate are two verbs that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. When you examine something, you are looking closely at it in order to understand its details or qualities. On the other hand, when you investigate something, you are conducting a systematic inquiry or examination in order to uncover facts or solve a problem.

Scope

Examine typically refers to a more superficial or cursory look at something, while investigate implies a more in-depth and thorough examination. For example, a doctor may examine a patient's symptoms to make a preliminary diagnosis, but they would investigate further by ordering tests and conducting a more detailed analysis to confirm the diagnosis.

Purpose

The purpose of examining something is usually to gain a general understanding or overview, while the purpose of investigating something is to uncover specific information or solve a particular problem. For instance, a journalist may examine a public figure's background to write a profile, but they would investigate allegations of corruption to uncover the truth.

Methodology

When examining something, you may use your senses or basic tools to observe and analyze its characteristics. On the other hand, when investigating something, you would typically follow a more structured and systematic approach, such as gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing data to reach a conclusion.

Examples

Examples of examining something include looking at a piece of art to appreciate its composition or examining a document to understand its contents. Examples of investigating something include conducting a forensic analysis to solve a crime or investigating a company's financial records to uncover fraud.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while examine and investigate are related concepts that involve looking closely at something, they have distinct attributes in terms of scope, purpose, methodology, and examples. Understanding the differences between these two verbs can help you choose the appropriate approach when analyzing a situation or problem.