ascertain comprehension

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascertain comprehension" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of determining whether someone understands a concept or information. Example: "During the meeting, I will ask questions to ascertain comprehension of the material presented."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

During this period he acquired his famous nickname, due to his frequent use of the Argentine diminutive interjection che, a vocative casual speech filler used to call attention or ascertain comprehension, similarly to both "bro" or the Canadian phrase "eh".

Wikipedia

In contexts characterised by high linguistic variability and illiteracy rates, the use of tools to ascertain comprehension of study information conveyed during the informed consent process may be recommended.

BMJ Open

Even if the definition provided by SciReader does not help the reader, the search retrieves the images and links that a reader would normally pursue in the next attempts to ascertain comprehension.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The aim was to ascertain message comprehension, appropriateness to youth culture, reading level, user friendliness, accuracy of take out message, capacity to engage the target audience as well as to determine any potential negative effects.

BMC Public Health

In the present study, we ascertained whether comprehension about basic evolutionary concepts is related to the majoring field of freshman students and evaluated the level of misconceptions incorporated by such students.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Before the second phase, the experimenter gave new written instructions to participants and ascertained their comprehension.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

The task was practiced and comprehension ascertained prior to task performance.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

The test simultaneously screens for difficulties with vision, movement, and comprehension and ascertains whether the subject can follow simple instructions.

Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

Patient-related considerations arose from additional subthemes; both nurses and pharmacists described aspects related to the perceived psychological health status of the patient, as well as anticipated comprehension, as ascertained by demonstrated education and language abilities.

BMJ Open

Staff should actively listen to parents, to gauge their level of comprehension and to ascertain which messages the parents want to hear.

BMC Pediatrics

Reading comprehension scores were ascertained at age 9, using the Neale Analysis of Reading Ability (NARA-II) (Neale 1997).

Genes, Brain and Behavior

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ascertain comprehension", ensure the context is formal or academic, as "ascertain" is a more formal alternative to "determine" or "check".

Common error

Avoid using "ascertain comprehension" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "check understanding" or "see if they understand" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain comprehension" functions as a verb phrase, where "ascertain" acts as the verb and "comprehension" as its direct object. It's used to describe the action of determining or confirming someone's understanding, similar to Examples available on Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ascertain comprehension" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of determining or verifying understanding. According to Ludwig, the phrase is deemed correct and usable in written English. Its usage is relatively rare but appropriate in formal, scientific, and academic contexts. Alternatives such as "determine understanding" or "evaluate understanding" may be more suitable in less formal settings. While "ascertain comprehension" is correct, it's important to consider the formality of the context when choosing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine understanding

Replaces the formal "ascertain" with the more common "determine", making the phrase slightly less formal.

evaluate understanding

Uses "evaluate" instead of "ascertain", focusing on a more analytical assessment of comprehension.

assess understanding

Substitutes "ascertain" with "assess", implying a systematic method of gauging comprehension.

verify understanding

Focuses on confirming that comprehension has occurred, using "verify" instead of "ascertain".

confirm comprehension

Focuses on confirming that comprehension has occurred, using "confirm" instead of "ascertain".

gauge comprehension

Uses "gauge" to imply measuring or estimating the level of comprehension.

check understanding

Employs the more casual "check" in place of "ascertain", making the phrase less formal.

measure understanding

Substitutes "ascertain" with "measure", directly implying that the level of understanding will be quantified.

test comprehension

Implies a formal examination of comprehension using "test" in place of "ascertain".

establish comprehension

Shift the focus to making sure comprehension is clear and in place.

FAQs

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

You can use "ascertain comprehension" in sentences like: "The teacher used a quiz to ascertain comprehension of the material", or "It's important to ascertain comprehension before moving on to the next topic".

What are some alternatives to "ascertain comprehension"?

Some alternatives include "determine understanding", "evaluate understanding", and "assess understanding".

Is "ascertain comprehension" formal or informal?

"Ascertain comprehension" is generally considered a formal phrase. In more casual settings, simpler terms like "check understanding" are more suitable.

What's the difference between "ascertain comprehension" and "ensure comprehension"?

"Ascertain comprehension" means to find out if someone understands, while "ensure comprehension" means to make certain that someone understands. They address different parts of the learning process.