able to discover which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "able to discover which" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the capability to find out or identify specific information or options among a set of possibilities. Example: "The researchers were able to discover which variables had the most significant impact on the results of the experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

NOVA should be able to discover which.

The Economist

By encouraging your child to keep close track of his moods and feelings, your child and the therapist will be able to discover which situations and everyday actions provoke depressive episodes.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Today, companies are able to test messaging in real-time, trying dozens of variants to discover which ones create the desired behavior most efficiently.

TechCrunch

Furthermore, we are not able to disentangle the effect of left cathodal stimulation and right anodal stimulation in isolation to discover which has a stronger effect.

Plosone

Batson was able to discover two variables which separately helped to ensure that motivation to be fair did win out.

SEP

As far as we were able to discover, this study, which involved follow-up over a 10-year period, is the first in Brazil to investigate the association between SRH and mortality in a population of young adults.

BMC Public Health

While we do not claim that our predictions are accurate in individual cases, our experience suggests that they are statistically correct, so that they are able to discover statistical trends, which is what we address here.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Likewise they have not been able to discover the extent to which local Nigerian soils were contaminated or whether nearby villages and schools were affected by any of the toxic clouds that would have been blown across the countryside.

Independent

Thus over time the evolving bacterial community is able to discover progressively higher growth rates, which would be selectively favoured even in the absence of phage, but which could not have been discovered without the presence of coevolving phage.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

"My hope, when I came to America," Gatti-Casazza wrote in his memoir, "was to be able to discover some good American operas, which I could produce and maintain in the repertory".

The New York Times - Arts

Suppose an inventive (or lucky) individual is able to discover some behaviour, or technique, which augments fitness.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "able to discover which", ensure the context clearly indicates a set of options or possibilities from which something is being identified. Use it to highlight the process of finding something specific among multiple options.

Common error

Avoid using "able to discover which" when a simpler phrase like "can identify" or "can determine" would suffice. The phrase is best suited for situations involving investigation or a non-trivial finding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "able to discover which" functions as an infinitive phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun by expressing the capacity or ability to find out or ascertain a specific item from a set of possibilities. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "able to discover which" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes the capacity to identify something specific from a set of possibilities. Ludwig AI indicates that it is suitable for formal contexts such as scientific research, news reports, and investigative analyses. Though not very common, the phrase is valuable when emphasizing the process of discovery. When writing, ensure the context involves a process of finding or identifying something specific from a defined set of options. For a simpler identification context, consider alternatives like "can identify" or "can determine".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capable of finding out which

Replaces "able" with "capable" and "discover" with "find out", emphasizing the capability to learn something.

able to identify which

Substitutes "discover" with "identify", focusing on recognizing a specific item or option.

capable of discerning which

Replaces "discover" with "discern", implying a more subtle or nuanced understanding.

in a position to ascertain which

Uses a more formal tone, replacing "able to discover" with "in a position to ascertain", which suggests a more deliberate and thorough investigation.

can determine which

Uses "can" instead of "able to" and "determine" instead of "discover", making it more direct and concise.

have the means to uncover which

Emphasizes the resources or methods available to find something out.

equipped to detect which

Suggests the use of specific tools or skills to find something.

in a state to reveal which

Focuses on the act of making something known, rather than just finding it.

prepared to learn which

Focuses on the readiness to gain knowledge about something specific.

in a situation to perceive which

Highlights the situational awareness needed to understand or notice something.

FAQs

How can I use "able to discover which" in a sentence?

Use "able to discover which" when you want to emphasize the process of identifying something specific from a range of possibilities through some effort or investigation. For example: "The scientists were "able to discover which" gene was responsible for the mutation."

What are some alternatives to "able to discover which"?

You can use alternatives like "capable of identifying which", "can determine which", or "able to identify which" depending on the context.

Is "able to discover which" formal or informal?

"Able to discover which" is suitable for both neutral and formal contexts. However, simpler alternatives might be preferred in very informal settings.

What is the difference between "able to discover which" and "able to identify which"?

While both are similar, ""able to discover which"" suggests a process of finding something that wasn't previously known, whereas ""able to identify which"" implies recognizing something already present or defined.