acquire certainty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire certainty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of gaining confidence or assurance about something. Example: "Through extensive research and analysis, we hope to acquire certainty about the project's feasibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I have the feeling that Blair has decided to acquire certainty as time has gone by.

The Guardian

In this economic climate they might.Larry EllisonChairman and chief executiveOracle CorporationRedwood Shores, CaliforniaLondon on the moveSIR – After a tough struggle to get into work on London Underground, many of us acquire certainty that the way to deal with the capital's intolerable public services is to bring in a strong man and give him the powers to get on with the job.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Most people acquire certainties as they grow older.

The New York Times

The next stage is the ability of the soul to produce knowledge actively, by being an active intellect; finally it acquires certainty through union with the Active Intellect, a transcendent principle of perfect knowledge which we discuss below.

SEP

Because, as the action progresses, the characters acquire the certainty of the death that awaits them if they remain in Algeria.

The New Yorker

What enables background knowledge to acquire absolute certainty in this way, and even augments its epistemic quality from a subjective standpoint, is precisely the property that robs it of a constitutive feature of knowledge: we make use of such knowledge without the awareness that it could be false.

Harvard University

22 Using appropriate molecular techniques on the parasites in the various parts of the digestive tract (PCR, nuclear probes), the investigator can acquire more certainty but, as stated before, specific molecular tools are not (yet) available for all types of every trypanosome species.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Businesses get certainty.

The Economist

Through mushāhadah, the Sufi acquires yaqīn (real certainty), which cannot be achieved by the intellect or transmitted to those who do not travel the Sufi path.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Munisteri's politically formative years were the conservative movement's salad days — the late 1970s and the 1980s, when many conservatives acquired a serene certainty that this is and always will be a center-right country.

The Washington Post

A reasonable Premier League outcome: We believe the market can digest higher-than expected costs if there is a commensurate improvement in the quality of BT's acquired rights and certainty on the outcome removes the number-one risk factor putting investors off BT.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acquire certainty" when you want to emphasize the process of gaining assurance or confidence through investigation or experience, not just a static state of being certain.

Common error

Avoid using "acquire certainty" when simply stating a fact. "Be certain" is more appropriate for expressing a state of sureness, while "acquire certainty" highlights the process of becoming sure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire certainty" functions as a verb phrase + noun, where "acquire" acts as a transitive verb taking "certainty" as its direct object. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its usage in describing how one comes to possess or obtain a state of being sure.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acquire certainty" describes the process of gaining assurance or confidence, frequently through investigation or experience. As Ludwig points out, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across news, scientific, and academic contexts. While alternatives like "gain certainty" or "achieve certainty" exist, "acquire certainty" emphasizes the journey toward sureness. Use "acquire certainty" to highlight the process of becoming sure, not just the state of being certain; otherwise use "be certain". Ludwig AI shows that its common usage is a testament to its effectiveness in conveying this specific nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain certainty

Implies a process of gradually obtaining certainty.

attain certainty

Suggests a more deliberate and effortful achievement of certainty.

achieve certainty

Focuses on successfully reaching a state of being certain.

develop certainty

Emphasizes the gradual growth and evolution of certainty over time.

secure certainty

Indicates the effort and process necessary to guarantee certainty.

establish certainty

Focuses on creating or setting up conditions to ensure certainty.

find assurance

Shifts the focus from absolute certainty to a feeling of confidence.

gain confidence

Implies building trust in something, rather than attaining absolute proof.

become sure

A simpler way to say "acquire certainty", often used in less formal contexts.

reach a conclusion

Refers to ending a deliberation or investigation and arriving at a certain decision

FAQs

How can I use "acquire certainty" in a sentence?

You can use "acquire certainty" to describe the process of becoming sure about something through investigation, learning, or experience. For instance, "Scientists conduct experiments to "acquire certainty" about their hypotheses."

What's a simpler way to say "acquire certainty"?

If you're looking for a simpler alternative to "acquire certainty", you could use phrases like "gain certainty" or "become sure", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "acquire certainty" or "achieve certainty"?

Both "acquire certainty" and "achieve certainty" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Acquire" suggests a gradual process of gaining certainty, while "achieve" implies successfully reaching a state of certainty after effort.

When is it appropriate to use "acquire certainty"?

"Acquire certainty" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the active process of obtaining assurance or confidence about something, as opposed to simply stating that something is certain. It often implies that some effort or investigation is involved.