Ascertain the position

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Ascertain the position" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to determine or find out the current status or location of something or someone. Example: "Before making any decisions, we need to ascertain the position of the project and its current challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

High-magnification and low-magnification (100× and 20×) DIC images were additionally recorded to ascertain the position of sperm cells.

Nature

The investigator then deployed the electrodes, again rotating to ascertain the position of the Thermal Safety Border relative to the serosa.

Gynecological Surgery

There is a proliferating demand for both commercial and governmental applications of wireless localization services that ascertain the position of a (mobile user) MU in an indoor environment [1].

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Low-range molecular weight biotinylated SDS-PAGE standards were run in each gel to ascertain the position of each band.

BioMed Research International

Improved data collection to monitor incidence, prevalence, expenditure and outcome indicators is needed to ascertain the position of diabetes in the Spanish health care system.

Globalization and Health

Comparative analysis was performed to ascertain the position within the transcript sequences of both the total SSRs and the cold-response SSRs.

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Since the early days of X-ray diffraction, it became clear that it was in principle possible not only to ascertain the positions of atoms in crystals, but also to observe the distribution of electrons [7] and therefore to "visualize" the chemical bonding.

Chemistry Central Journal

For any region of interest the files for the published draft sequences are consulted to ascertain the positions of fosmid clones (generally ∼40 kb) based on end sequence data.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Among other things, that meant ascertaining the positions of every antenna in NASA's Deep Space Network to an accuracy of one centimeter over all that time.

The New York Times - Science

This survey instrument was assembled by incorporating inputs from the CLA, and to ascertain the current position of the sustainable community on the continuum of the super-rhythm of sociocultural development [27].

European Journal of Futures Research

While for those genes that were not cloned, information of the published flanking markers was used for the ePCR tool of NCBI (Rotmistrovsky et al. 2004) to ascertain the putative position of the genes.

Rice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ascertain the position", ensure you provide context on what tools or methods are being used to determine the location or status. For example, "Use GPS data to ascertain the position of the vehicle".

Common error

Avoid using "ascertain the position" when simpler words like "find" or "locate" would suffice. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain the position" functions as a directive or descriptive phrase, indicating the act of determining the location or status of something. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ascertain the position" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's best suited for formal or technical contexts where determining the precise location or status is crucial. While alternatives like "determine the location" or "establish the placement" exist, "ascertain the position" carries a tone of thoroughness and formality. Though the phrase is found in scientific, news, academic, formal business, encyclopedia and wiki sources, it's important to avoid overuse in simpler contexts where more direct language is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Determine the location

Focuses on finding the exact spot where something is.

Establish the placement

Emphasizes confirming where something has been set or arranged.

Find out the whereabouts

Highlights discovering someone or something's current location.

Identify the site

Specifically refers to pinpointing a particular location or area.

Locate the spot

Stresses the action of finding a precise point or area.

Ascertain the bearing

Emphasizes the direction or orientation rather than the precise spot.

Determine the orientation

Similar to bearing, focuses on the direction something faces.

Pinpoint the coordinates

Focuses on exact geographical or spatial data.

Figure out where it is

More informal way of asking to find a location.

Discover the setting

Highlights uncovering where something is situated within a larger environment.

FAQs

How can I use "ascertain the position" in a sentence?

You can use "ascertain the position" when you want to determine or find out the current status or location of something or someone. For example: "Before making any decisions, we need to ascertain the position of the project and its current challenges."

What are some alternatives to "ascertain the position"?

You can use alternatives like "determine the location", "establish the placement", or "find out the whereabouts" depending on the context.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "ascertain the position"?

It's appropriate in formal or technical contexts where precise determination of location or status is important. It's often used in scientific research, navigation, and strategic planning.

What is the difference between "ascertain the position" and "find the position"?

"Ascertain the position" implies a more thorough or formal process of discovery than "find the position". "Ascertain" suggests careful investigation or calculation.