Meaning & use
internet sleuthing
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Meanings
noununcountableinformal
The activity of investigating someone or something online, often by ordinary people rather than police.
Grammar: Uncountable; say 'some internet sleuthing' or 'do internet sleuthing', not 'an internet sleuthing'.
Patterns
- do some internet sleuthing
- internet sleuthing on someone
After the photo was posted, fans did some internet sleuthing and found the location.
Her internet sleuthing uncovered an old interview that changed the story.
The case was solved by internet sleuthing rather than by official detectives.
noununcountableinformal
The practice of using online tools to gather information about a person or event.
Grammar: Often used with 'through' or 'by': solved by internet sleuthing.
Patterns
- through internet sleuthing
- by internet sleuthing
They identified the building through internet sleuthing.
Internet sleuthing can be helpful but also risks spreading false information.
Common combinations
- do some internet sleuthing
- I did some internet sleuthing and found his old blog.
- a bit of internet sleuthing
- A bit of internet sleuthing revealed the truth.
- internet sleuthing skills
- Her internet sleuthing skills helped the team.
- through internet sleuthing
- They located the photo through internet sleuthing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- online investigation
- More formal and neutral; internet sleuthing often suggests amateur detective work.
- cyber-sleuthing
- A close variant, but less common and sometimes hyphenated.
- digital detective work
- A descriptive phrase, not a fixed compound; use when you want to sound less informal.
Word family
Commonly confused: internet sleuthing or cyberstalking?
internet sleuthing vs cyberstalking
Cyberstalking is repeated, unwanted online contact that harasses someone; internet sleuthing is simply looking for information, though it can become intrusive.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'internet sleuthing' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Internet sleuthing' is an uncountable noun, so you 'do some internet sleuthing'. You cannot say 'an internet sleuthing' or use it as a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “internet sleuthing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.