ascertain reasonable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascertain reasonable" is not correct in written English as it lacks clarity and proper context.
It could be used in a context where you are trying to determine what is reasonable, but it needs to be rephrased for clarity. Example: "We need to ascertain what is reasonable in this situation before making a decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In so doing, we provide the first example of how cost accounting methods can be applied to pharmacy financial data to ascertain "reasonable" medicine price and mark-ups.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The key to solve this problem is ascertaining reasonable injection production ratio (Li et al. 2015; Orozco and Aguilera 2017; Zhao 2013; Ballin et al. 2012).

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

We believe we were able to ascertain with reasonable assurance that the complaints from New Mexico Republican politicians and party activists about Iglesias's handling of voter fraud and corruption cases were the reasons for his removal as U.S. Attorney.

Huffington Post

These voters should not be disfranchised where their intent may be ascertained with reasonable certainty, simply because the chad they punched did not completely dislodge from the ballot.

The New York Times

Our courts have repeatedly held that, where the intention of the voter can be ascertained with reasonable certainty from his ballot, that intention will be given effect even though the ballot is not strictly in conformity with the law...

The New York Times

It hinted broadly that dimpled chads should be counted, quoting an Illinois Supreme Court opinion declaring that "voters should not be disfranchised where their intent may be ascertained with reasonable certainty".

The New York Times

But Gore aides were gratified to find that the court quoted from an Illinois Supreme Court opinion that "voters should not be disfranchised where their intent may be ascertained with reasonable certainty, simply because the chad they punched did not completely dislodge from the ballot".

The New York Times

Asserting the paramount importance of an accurate vote count, the court cited with approval the words of the Illinois court: "Voters should not be disfranchised where their intent may be ascertained with reasonable certainty, simply because the chad they punched did not completely dislodge from the ballot," the justices ruled.

The New York Times

"The value of awards given to the CEO could not be ascertained with reasonable accuracy owing to the rather confusing disclosure," Pirc said.

BBC

Justice Erlbaum said, however, that he could not ascertain beyond a reasonable doubt that what had happened in Mr. Monserrate's apartment had been an intentional attack.

The New York Times

can with reasonable effort ascertain and identify" the warrant's objects.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to determine if something aligns with expectations, clarify the subject by specifying "ascertain what is reasonable" for enhanced readability.

Common error

Avoid using "ascertain reasonable" without specifying what you are trying to find reasonable. This can lead to confusion; ensure your sentence clearly states the object or criteria being assessed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain reasonable" functions as an incomplete verb phrase. Grammatically, it requires a direct object to clarify what needs to be ascertained. Ludwig AI points out its lack of clarity in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ascertain reasonable" is grammatically questionable and lacks clarity. Ludwig AI indicates that it's not quite right in standard written English without further context. It's recommended to use clearer alternatives like "determine what is reasonable" or "establish reasonable criteria" to improve comprehensibility. The phrase appears across Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business contexts, but its infrequent usage suggests it should be rephrased for better communication. Focusing on clarity and providing a direct object will enhance the effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Determine what is reasonable

Replaces "ascertain" with a more common and direct verb.

Ascertain what is considered reasonable

Adds the determiner "what is considered" for better context.

Establish reasonable criteria

Focuses on setting the standards for reasonableness.

Assess the reasonableness

Emphasizes the evaluation of something's reasonableness.

Ascertain reasonable expectations

Changes the phrase to address expectations, making it more practical.

Evaluate whether it is reasonable

More verbose, highlighting the act of evaluating a condition.

Judge the rationality

Uses "rationality" as a synonym for reasonableness, with a slightly more formal tone.

Confirm what constitutes reasonable

Focuses on confirming the boundaries of what is considered reasonable.

Verify the plausibility

Shifts the focus to plausibility as a measure of reasonableness.

Figure out what is reasonable

More informal, using a phrasal verb to indicate discovery.

FAQs

How to use "ascertain reasonable" in a sentence?

While "ascertain reasonable" is not commonly used, you could say "We need to ascertain what is reasonable in this situation" or rephrase it to something like "determine what is reasonable" or "establish reasonable criteria".

What can I say instead of "ascertain reasonable"?

You can use alternatives like "determine what is reasonable", "establish reasonable criteria", or "assess the reasonableness" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "ascertain reasonable" or "ascertain what is reasonable"?

"Ascertain what is reasonable" is more grammatically sound and clearer than "ascertain reasonable", as it includes the object of the verb. "Ascertain reasonable" is incomplete.

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

While both aim to find what's reasonable, "determine reasonable" is a more common and straightforward way to phrase the intention. "Ascertain" implies a more formal or investigative approach, but still needs an object to be grammatically correct (e.g., "ascertain reasonable expectations").