ascertain definitively

USAGE SUMMARY

'ascertain definitively' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you wish to convey that something has been established as a fact with certainty. For example, "After extensive research and analysis, the team was finally able to ascertain definitively that the new product would be successful in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A few years ago, scientists tried to ascertain definitively whether or not dogs were capable of watching and understanding moving images on a screen.

The Guardian - Film

"They will very likely ascertain definitively whether neutrino oscillations are taking place".

Science Magazine

Larger series with extended follow-up will be required to ascertain definitively the prognostic value of c- erb B-4 expression in breast carcinoma.

British Journal of Cancer

Some reports associate their overexpression with short while others with longer survival, thus, extended studies are required to ascertain definitively their prognostic value [ 11- 13].

BMC Cancer

To address this question in vivo requires simultaneous live imaging of EGFR-GFP and DCN filopodia over a 48 hour time scale to ascertain definitively which filopodia will become the stable branches and how they behaved over a 48 hour period in relation to the level of EGFR-GFP they contain.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In order to definitively ascertain the functional contribution of lymphotoxin (LT) expressed by B cells, we produced mice with the LTβ gene deleted from B cells (B-LTβ KO mice).

Immunity

While Carr firmly believed that his skepticism about the Internet's benefits to cognition was warranted, he cautioned in both his essay and his book The Big Switch that long-term psychological and neurological studies were required to definitively ascertain how cognition develops under the influence of the Internet.

Wikipedia

High-resolution molecular studies are needed to definitively ascertain whether gut microbial communities are distinct in milk-fed and formula-fed infants.

Plosone

It is difficult to definitively ascertain whether the surgical trauma, the bypass or the altered oral intake is definitively responsible.

Genome Medicine

It will remain difficult to definitively ascertain the etiology of PION in this case, even if all the requested information is provided.

F1000Research

Last, as many participants sought refuge in multiple countries, we cannot definitively ascertain degree of knowledge imparted in a specific setting.

Conflict and Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ascertain definitively" when you need to emphasize that something has been discovered or established as a definite fact, leaving no room for doubt or further questioning.

Common error

Avoid using "ascertain definitively" in casual conversations or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or stilted in contexts where simpler language would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain definitively" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of discovering or establishing something as a definite fact. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is appropriate for use in formal writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ascertain definitively" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in written English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's used to emphasize that something has been discovered or established as a definite fact, leaving no room for doubt. Primarily found in scientific and news contexts, it denotes certainty and conclusiveness. While authoritative, it's best suited for formal writing and should be avoided in casual conversation to prevent sounding overly formal. Alternatives like "determine with certainty" or "establish beyond doubt" can be used in different contexts to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

definitively determine

Swaps the order of the words.

ascertain with certainty

Simply changes the placement of "with certainty".

determine with certainty

Replaces "ascertain" with "determine" and emphasizes the sureness of the conclusion.

definitively establish

Replaces "ascertain" with "establish".

establish beyond doubt

Focuses on removing any uncertainty in the finding.

definitively confirm

Replaces "ascertain" with "confirm".

confirm conclusively

Highlights the act of proving something without question.

verify unequivocally

Emphasizes the lack of ambiguity in the verification process.

prove definitively

Focuses on demonstrating the truth of something in a final way.

find out for certain

A more informal way of expressing the same idea.

FAQs

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

Use "ascertain definitively" to express the act of discovering something with certainty, such as, "Scientists conducted further experiments to "determine definitively" whether the new drug was effective."

What's a simpler way to say "ascertain definitively"?

You can use phrases like "find out for sure", "determine with certainty", or "establish beyond doubt" as simpler alternatives to "ascertain definitively", depending on the context.

What is the difference between "ascertain" and "ascertain definitively"?

"Ascertain" means to find something out for certain, while "ascertain definitively" emphasizes the conclusiveness and certainty of the finding. The addition of "definitively" reinforces that there is no room for doubt.

Is it always necessary to use "definitively" with "ascertain"?

No, it is not always necessary. Using "definitively" adds emphasis to the certainty of the discovery. If the context already implies certainty, using just "ascertain" is sufficient.