ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ascertain' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use 'ascertain' to mean to find out or discover something as a result of investigation or analysis. For example: The team worked hard to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Here's our round up of helpful articles and resources: Rosetta comet landing: everything you need to know This is a really handy compilation of six key things you need to know about the Rosetta mission, including how the findings will ascertain whether planets made the Earth blue and the size of 67P in relation to Manhattan, New York.

The Guardian

"We were able to use our experience as psychiatric nurses to ascertain whether or not Victor was genuine and whether or not what he was telling us was the truth.

The Guardian

Although the state of the economy remains difficult to ascertain beyond dubious official figures, huge sums are lost to corruption.

The Guardian

The EU urged the government to "take all necessary measures to ascertain Mr Dzamara's whereabouts", calling for a probe into the disappearance.

The Guardian

But the relief was suspended until further calculations could ascertain exactly how well the levels matched.

The Guardian

The feminist credentials of Suffragette are not difficult to ascertain – Mulligan doesn't play one of the Pankhursts, but rather a lowly footsoldier called Maud – but it is in Madding Crowd that Mulligan shows her cards.

The Guardian - Film

Toxicology studies are also under way to ascertain whether the murderer gave the women any drugs or chemicals to render them unconscious.

The Guardian

Many users proposed visiting government offices on Lunar New Year's Eve, to ascertain whether officials are working as hard as everyone else.

The Guardian

The Metropolitan police is currently mapping the problem in an attempt to ascertain the scale of the issue and identify "hotspots" of abuse.

The Guardian

Unable to ascertain where the man's friends are, someone starts to call 999, but then decides it would be quicker to take back him back down South Road, where more ambulances are arriving.

The Guardian

"Police officers attended the scene in order to ascertain the details of the alleged offender.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ascertain" when you need to emphasize the process of careful and systematic discovery, particularly in formal writing.

Common error

While "ascertain" is a perfectly valid word, avoid using it in very casual conversations or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "find out" or "learn" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The verb "ascertain" functions primarily to indicate the process of discovering something with certainty through investigation or systematic inquiry. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

32%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ascertain" is a versatile verb used to describe the process of discovering or establishing something definitively. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness. It's most frequently found in news articles, formal business documents, and scientific publications. While alternatives such as "determine" and "find out" exist, "ascertain" emphasizes a careful and systematic approach to discovery. Using "ascertain" effectively requires understanding its level of formality and choosing simpler alternatives for casual contexts. With a wide array of real-world examples, Ludwig helps users to confidently "ascertain" the correct way to use this word in their own writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine

Focuses on making a firm decision or conclusion after investigation.

discover

Suggests finding something unexpectedly or while searching.

find out

A more informal way of saying "discover" or "learn".

learn

Emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge or skill.

establish

Implies setting something on a firm or permanent basis.

verify

Focuses on confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

confirm

Similar to verify, but can also imply adding certainty to a belief.

investigate

Suggests a more thorough and systematic inquiry.

work out

Implies solving a problem to find an answer or solution.

find

A simple and direct term for locating something.

FAQs

How do you use "ascertain" in a sentence?

You can use "ascertain" to describe the act of finding something out for certain. For example, "Researchers are working to ascertain the long-term effects of the new medication."

What can I say instead of "ascertain"?

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

Which is correct, "ascertain" or "assume"?

"Ascertain" means to discover something definitively, while "assume" means to suppose something without proof. Use "ascertain" when you have evidence or want to find evidence; use "assume" when you don't.

What's the difference between "ascertain" and "investigate"?

"Investigate" implies a systematic inquiry, while "ascertain" suggests a successful conclusion to that inquiry. You might "investigate" a crime, hoping to "ascertain" the truth.