ascertain on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascertain on" is not correct and usable in written English.
The correct usage would typically involve "ascertain" followed by a direct object, without the preposition "on." Example: "We need to ascertain the facts before making a decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The position of many important writers on legal rights is difficult to ascertain on this point, because it is not one they addressed directly.

SEP

How far they may really stand in his way he will better ascertain on the spot.

The New Yorker

Unfortunately, I have not been able to ascertain on what day the Prosecution presented this order.

Yale University

Rather, he asserted that the judge impaneling the grand jury had breached his duty to ascertain on voir dire whether any prospective juror had been influenced by the adverse publicity and that this error had been compounded by his failure to adequately instruct the grand jury concerning bias and prejudice.

Cornell University

From what my colleagues have been able to ascertain, on Saturday morning 250 inmates went into the hallways to begin a protest, demanding that several of their fellow prisoners be released from solitary confinement, where they had been placed for violating colony rules.

The New York Times

The first assumption is that we must possess criteria of transworld identity in order to ascertain, on the basis of their properties in other possible worlds, the identities of (perhaps radically disguised) individuals in those worlds.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In short, these British nuclear families were ascertained on the basis of at least one child who had expressive or receptive language skills ≥1.5 standard deviations (s.d).

European Journal of Human Genetics

In one recombinant clone, homologous recombination was ascertained on the long arm by long-range PCR (see Figure S2).

Cell Metabolism

The reliability of the classification of disc degeneration ascertained on X-rays was analysed by Kappa statistics (one observer, two observations, non-weighted, Table  1).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The analogous trends were ascertained on studying the polyplex solutions.

European Polymer Journal

The reliability of LH for long pulse operation has been ascertained on Tore Supra.

Fusion Engineering and Design

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey the act of discovering information, replace the grammatically unsound phrase “ascertain on” with alternatives such as “determine,” “establish,” or “ascertain” followed directly by the object of your inquiry. For example, instead of "ascertain on what happened", use "ascertain what happened".

Common error

A common mistake is adding unnecessary prepositions after "ascertain". Always use "ascertain" directly followed by the object or information you are trying to discover. Avoid constructions like "ascertain on" or "ascertain about"; instead, use alternatives like "determine" or "find out" if you feel a preposition is necessary for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain on" is typically intended to function as a verb phrase, aiming to convey the action of discovering or establishing something. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig identifies its incorrect usage based on standard English grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

Academia

20%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ascertain on" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. While it appears in various contexts, including scientific and academic texts, its usage is not standard. Ludwig AI underscores this point. To express the intended meaning of discovering or establishing something, it is better to use alternatives such as "determine", "establish", or simply "ascertain" followed directly by the object of your inquiry. Pay attention to the suggestions offered and prioritize grammatically correct constructions to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ascertain the facts

Emphasizes gathering factual information, adding specificity.

ascertain the truth

Focuses on discovering what is real or accurate, implying a deeper investigation.

determine

This alternative provides a direct and concise substitute focusing on finding a definite answer.

ascertain the details

Highlights the importance of finding out specific information, emphasizing thoroughness.

establish

Suggests setting something firmly after finding it out, similar to confirming a fact.

ascertain what happened

Specifically refers to finding out the course of events, focusing on narrative.

find out

An informal way to express discovering information, differing in formality.

discover

Implies uncovering something previously unknown, adding a sense of revelation.

learn

Focuses on the process of gaining knowledge, broader than just ascertaining.

uncover

Suggests revealing something hidden, emphasizing the act of making it known.

FAQs

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

Use "ascertain" directly followed by the object or information you are trying to discover. For instance, instead of "ascertain on", say "ascertain the facts" or "ascertain what happened".

What are some grammatically correct alternatives to "ascertain on"?

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

Is it correct to say "ascertain on"?

No, "ascertain on" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage involves "ascertain" followed by a direct object without the preposition "on".

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

"Ascertain" and "determine" are similar in meaning, both referring to finding something out definitely. However, "ascertain" often implies a process of inquiry, while "determine" can also mean deciding something.