a certain experiment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain experiment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific experiment without naming it directly, often to imply that the details are known to the audience or are not necessary to specify. Example: "In the study, a certain experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis regarding plant growth under different light conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Scientists choose to do a certain experiment or interpret an observation for many reasons.

The New York Times - Books

Murnin was about to carry on with a certain experiment to shed light on the visual acuity of the elephant.

The New Yorker

The m-MCDI unit cell based on both anion and cation exchange polymers exhibits a high NaCl removal of 93%, much higher than that of conventional capacitive deionization cell with CNTs electrode (25%) or MCDI cell with commercial anion and cation exchange membranes (74%) in a certain experiment at 1.2 V and for an initial conductivity of 50 μS/cm.

Electrochimica Acta

As described above, a unit was considered a 'winner' when it responded to its optimal AM tone complex independent of the second tone complex presented in a certain experiment.

Plosone

So each voxel has an activation probability value for a specific focus of a certain experiment.

BioMed Research International

To help with the laboratory management, SIGLa offers a short report, listing all the executed activities in a certain experiment.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

However, the majority of open-accessible data refers to the unimodal results of certain experiment relative to a specific disease.

BioMed Research International

The global result for a certain parameterization experiment is the average of the results in all folds.

BioMed Research International

If you want to add a certain effect, experiment with the sliders.

WikiHow

Full-length LC20 (1.5 µg) was used as a substrate in certain experiments.

Plosone

Recent evidence suggests that human animal relationships may indeed play a role during certain experiments (Péron et al., 2012).

Behavioural Processes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a certain experiment" when you want to refer to a specific experiment without providing all the details, often because the context makes it clear or the specifics are not crucial to the point you're making.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain experiment" when specific details are necessary for clarity. If the audience needs to understand the methodology or results, provide a more precise description of the experiment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain experiment" functions as a determiner phrase modifying the noun "experiment". It serves to indicate a particular, though not explicitly identified, experiment within a given context. Ludwig AI analysis validates its use in various sentences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a certain experiment" is a grammatically correct way to reference a specific experiment without explicitly detailing it. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is primarily used in scientific and news contexts. While the phrase is considered acceptable for general use, it's important to ensure clarity and avoid vagueness, especially when specific details are necessary for understanding. Alternatives like "a specific experiment" or "a particular experiment" may be more appropriate depending on the context. The phrase's frequency is considered uncommon, according to Ludwig's analysis of various sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a specific experiment

Emphasizes the particularity and defined nature of the experiment.

a particular experiment

Highlights the distinctiveness of the experiment being referred to.

a given experiment

Suggests the experiment is already known or pre-determined.

a designated experiment

Implies the experiment was officially chosen or assigned.

a defined experiment

Focuses on the well-structured and outlined nature of the experiment.

a known experiment

Indicates the experiment is familiar or recognized within a specific field.

a selected experiment

Suggests the experiment was chosen from a set of options.

a pre-determined experiment

Emphasizes that the experiment was decided in advance.

an established experiment

Implies the experiment is well-recognized and validated.

a set experiment

Focuses on the fixed or arranged nature of the experiment.

FAQs

What does "a certain experiment" mean?

The phrase "a certain experiment" refers to a specific experiment without explicitly naming or detailing it. It implies that the experiment is known or understood within the context of the discussion.

When is it appropriate to use "a certain experiment" in writing?

Use "a certain experiment" when the specific details of the experiment are not essential for the reader to understand your point or when those details are already known to the audience. Otherwise, "a specific experiment" might be a better option.

What are some alternatives to "a certain experiment"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a specific experiment", "a particular experiment", or "a given experiment". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

How can I avoid being too vague when using "a certain experiment"?

Ensure that the context provides enough information for the reader to understand which experiment you are referring to. If there's any ambiguity, consider providing more details or opting for "a more detailed description".