ascertain anything

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascertain anything" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express the act of finding out or discovering information about something. Example: "After conducting several tests, we were unable to ascertain anything about the cause of the malfunction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As quantum mechanics has taught us, things are inexorably changed by our trying to ascertain anything about them.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Couple things to note: First, Acer loves the "don't-show-the-front" product shots, so we can't really ascertain if anything looks drastically different.

TechCrunch

But the power of reason to prove much of what we know is weak, and Hume denied that our beliefs about the world could be ascertained with anything like scientific certainty.

The New Yorker

The investigation is being led entirely by the Metropolitan Police and they will ascertain what, if anything, happened".

Independent

Woods's testy exchange on Wednesday with a reporter who persisted in trying to ascertain what, if anything, was incorrect in the book was a case of displaced anger.

The New York Times - Sports

Did you see anything?

BMC Anesthesiology

We don't learn anything".

Human Resources for Health

The aim of such a review is to ascertain whether there is anything substantial that happened on the court and that the referee missed during the game.

Huffington Post

Try and see if you can buy frozen foods, but first, ascertain if there is anything you can make from scratch.

WikiHow

It will go through your income and reasonable expenditure to ascertain if you can afford to pay anything towards the administration of the bankruptcy.

The Guardian - Money

Why, when Pistorius heard the bathroom window opening, as he claimed, did he not ascertain from the deceased whether she too had heard anything?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ascertain anything" when you want to convey a formal or precise attempt to find something out, particularly when there's a degree of uncertainty involved.

Common error

Avoid using "ascertain anything" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "find out anything" or "figure out anything" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain anything" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of discovering or establishing something with certainty. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, as evidenced by the provided example from The New Yorker.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ascertain anything" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express the act of discovering or establishing information, often with a degree of effort or uncertainty. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is more appropriate in formal contexts but appears across several categories. While it may be more formal, alternatives like "determine anything" or "find out anything" are often suitable in less formal settings. Overall, while valid, its specific usage is relatively uncommon but understood, fitting better in contexts where precision and thoroughness are emphasized.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine anything

Replaces "ascertain" with the more common "determine", maintaining the same meaning.

discover anything

Substitutes "ascertain" with "discover", emphasizing the finding of something previously unknown.

find out anything

Uses the phrasal verb "find out" instead of "ascertain", making it more informal.

establish anything

Replaces "ascertain" with "establish", focusing on confirming or proving something.

figure out anything

Uses the phrasal verb "figure out", suggesting a process of reasoning and problem-solving.

learn anything

Replaces "ascertain" with "learn", emphasizing the acquisition of knowledge.

uncover anything

Substitutes "ascertain" with "uncover", suggesting the revealing of something hidden.

confirm anything

Replaces "ascertain" with "confirm", highlighting the verification of something.

verify anything

Similar to "confirm", but emphasizes the checking of accuracy or truth.

validate anything

Focuses on establishing the validity or correctness of something.

FAQs

How can I use "ascertain anything" in a sentence?

You can use "ascertain anything" when you want to express the process of discovering or determining information. For example: "After conducting several tests, we were unable to ascertain anything about the cause of the malfunction".

What can I say instead of "ascertain anything"?

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

When is it appropriate to use "ascertain anything"?

It's appropriate to use "ascertain anything" in formal writing or when you want to emphasize the effort to find out something. In less formal situations, simpler alternatives might be better suited.

What is the difference between "ascertain anything" and "determine anything"?

While both phrases express the act of finding something out, "ascertain anything" has a more formal tone. "Determine anything" is a more common and versatile choice.