ascertain significant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascertain significant" is not correct in English as it lacks a necessary noun or context to complete the thought.
It could be used in a context where you are trying to determine the significance of something, but it needs to be rephrased for clarity. Example: "We need to ascertain the significant factors affecting our sales performance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Because parametric tests such as analysis of variance and linear discriminant analysis are appropriate only where the conditions of both equal variances and normal distribution are met, we used nonparametric tests (Spearman rank analysis and Kruskal-Wallis/Mann-Whitney U tests) to ascertain significant (p<0.05) correlations and differences between groups, respectively.

Plosone

Student's t tests were performed to ascertain significant differences (p < 0.05) between the released and freshly prepared samples.

Biomacromolecules

The least-square difference or Dunnett's T3 test (equal variance not assumed) was used to ascertain significant differences among the groups.

BMC Nephrology

Recursive partitioning was used to ascertain significant cut-points in continuous candidate variables associated with an increased risk of mortality [ 11].

BMC Infectious Diseases

After a descriptive reprocessing of the data obtained, the unpaired t-test was conducted to ascertain significant deviations for the various pulp positions of the four CT groups.

BMC Veterinary Research

AsA could not ascertain significant correlations for CCL2/IFN score and CXCL10, probably due to the small sample size (data not shown).

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

In the context of our study of the quality of care procedures in GAU, we ascertained significant flaws in the format and content of the transmitted hospital summary [ 9].

BMC Geriatrics

DAVID uses the Fisher's Exact Test to ascertain statistically significant gene enrichment for a particular pathway, and significant processes were selected based on a corrected P-value by Benjamini [ 113] with a cut-off of 0.05 and even more stringent P-value of 0.001.

BMC Genomics

Analysis of variance is also applied to ascertain statistically significant factors contributing to surface roughness.

Measurement

Objective: to ascertain the significant factors that influence women to stop/not stop smoking during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

Midwifery

A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was performed with the three LSOs as dependant variables and each type of grouping variable (Participation/Control/Instructor) as fixed factors to ascertain any significant differences of LSO between groupings.

Language Testing in Asia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the word "ascertain", follow it with a noun or noun phrase that clarifies what you are trying to determine. For example, "ascertain significant factors" or "ascertain significant differences" are more complete and grammatically sound.

Common error

Avoid using "ascertain significant" without specifying what you are trying to determine. This incomplete construction can confuse readers. Instead, use a full noun phrase after "ascertain" to clearly state the object of your investigation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain significant" functions as an incomplete verb phrase, needing a noun or noun phrase to complete its meaning. As Ludwig AI notes, it lacks the necessary context to be grammatically sound. The examples show it often used with nouns like "differences", "variables", or "factors".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ascertain significant" is grammatically incorrect without a clarifying noun or noun phrase. It is often used in scientific and academic contexts to express the act of discovering or verifying something of importance. Ludwig AI highlights that it needs to be completed to be grammatically sound. To improve clarity, always specify what you are trying to ascertain, such as "ascertain significant factors" or "ascertain significant differences". While "ascertain" is a formal verb, the overall tone remains neutral when used correctly. Related phrases include "determine significance" and "identify significant factors".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine significance

Replaces "ascertain" with "determine" focusing on the act of finding out the importance of something.

establish significance

Emphasizes confirming or proving the importance of something.

identify significant factors

Focuses on finding the key elements that are important.

assess significant impact

Highlights evaluating the important effect or influence of something.

evaluate the significance

Replaces "ascertain" with "evaluate", indicating a judgment of importance.

confirm notable aspects

Focuses on verifying important or remarkable features.

verify important elements

Highlights the act of checking the crucial components.

ascertain key variables

Emphasizes finding and confirming the main factors.

ascertain substantial impact

Focuses on determining a considerable effect.

determine major influences

Highlights identifying the primary effects.

FAQs

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

The phrase "ascertain significant" needs to be completed with a noun. For example, use "ascertain significant factors", "ascertain significant differences", or "ascertain significant relationships" to make it grammatically correct.

What does "ascertain significant differences" mean?

It means to determine or establish that there are important or noteworthy differences between two or more things. You can also say to "determine significance".

Is it better to say "ascertain significance" or "determine significance"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Ascertain significance" emphasizes the process of finding out the significance, while "determine significance" focuses on establishing or deciding the significance.

What are some alternatives to "ascertain significant"?

Some alternatives include "identify significant factors", "assess significant impact", or "evaluate the significance" depending on the context.