Say it like this
- Let me dig into the logs and get back to you.
- I'll dig into this after lunch.
- We need to dig into why this keeps happening.
- I've been digging into the performance issues all morning.
- Can someone dig into the root cause?
Use it at work
Investigating
- I'll dig into the logs and get back to you.
- Let's dig into why sign-ups dropped.
Planning
- Can we dig into this in our next one-on-one?
- I haven't had time to dig into the proposal yet.
Sharing results
- I dug into it. The issue is a missing index.
- After digging into the data, it's mostly mobile users.
Don't say this
'Dig into' is a fixed phrasal verb. You need 'into', not just 'in'.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| dig into | Investigate in detail | Anyone | Problems, data |
| look into | Check or investigate | Anyone | Usually lighter |
| deep dive | A long, detailed look | Anyone | Big topics |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your manager asks about a bug. You want to say you will investigate it carefully. What do you say?
2. Which sentence has an error?
3. I've been _____ into the performance issues all morning and I think I found the cause.
4. Rewrite this sentence to sound more natural: 'I will investigate the customer data to find patterns.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 5
"Let me dig into the logs and get back to you."
We don't save your recording. The word check uses your browser's speech recognition.
More about dig into
Real examples(7)
- Standup
"Today I'll dig into the failing tests and find out what's causing them."
- Slack message
"I'm digging into the API timeout issue now. Will update you in an hour."
- GitHub PR
"I dug into the memory leak and found the problem in the caching logic."
- Jira ticket
"Need to dig into customer feedback to understand why users are dropping off at checkout."
- Retrospective
"We should dig into why so many bugs slipped through QA this sprint."
- Sprint planning
"This ticket requires digging into the legacy codebase, so let's add extra points."
- Pair programming
"Let's dig into this function together and figure out the logic."
More mistakes(2)
- ✕I dig into it yesterday.✓I dug into it yesterday.
The past tense of 'dig' is 'dug', not 'dig'.
- ✕I'm digging into to find the answer.✓I'm digging into this to find the answer.
You need an object after 'dig into'. Say what you are investigating.
Other forms(4)
- dig into base form
"I need to dig into this issue."
- digging into present participle
"She's digging into the logs right now."
- dug into past simple
"We dug into the problem yesterday."
- dug into past participle
"I've already dug into the data."
Often used with(6)
- dig into the data · Analyze information or metrics closely
- dig into the root cause · Investigate the main reason for a problem
- dig into the logs · Search through log files to find information
- dig into the code · Examine codebase carefully to understand or debug
- dig into the details · Look at specific points, not just the summary
- dig into feedback · Analyze user or customer responses carefully
Similar words(5)
- investigate · More formal; often used in documentation or reports
- look into · Similar meaning but slightly less intensive investigation
- dive into · Suggests starting quickly and with enthusiasm
- explore · More open-ended; not always problem-focused
- analyze · More formal; emphasizes structured examination of data
Opposites(5)
- skim
- glance at
- overlook
- ignore
- skip
Questions(6)
- What does 'dig into' mean in a tech standup?
- 'Dig into' means to investigate or examine something carefully. In standups, engineers use 'dig into' when they plan to spend focused time understanding a bug, analyzing data, or researching a problem.
- Is 'dig into' formal enough for work emails?
- Yes, 'dig into' is appropriate for most workplace communication including emails, Slack, standups, and meetings. For very formal reports, you might use 'investigate' or 'analyze' instead.
- What is the difference between 'dig into' and 'look into'?
- 'Dig into' suggests a more thorough, intensive investigation. 'Look into' is lighter and may mean a quick check. Use 'dig into' when you expect to spend significant time on something.
- Can I say 'dig in' instead of 'dig into'?
- 'Dig in' has different meanings: it can mean to start eating or to work hard. For investigating something, always use 'dig into' with an object, like 'dig into the problem'.
- How do I use 'dig into' in past tense?
- The past tense is 'dug into'. For example: 'I dug into the logs yesterday and found the issue.' The present perfect is 'have/has dug into'.
- What is the difference between 'dig into' and 'dive into'?
- Both mean to examine something closely. 'Dive into' suggests starting quickly with enthusiasm. 'Dig into' emphasizes careful, thorough investigation. Both are common in tech teams.
