ascertain something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascertain something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to determine or find out specific information or facts about a subject. Example: "Before making a decision, it is important to ascertain the facts surrounding the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"We come here on this line every day trying to ascertain something that can assist us to get through the night".

The New York Times

Sometimes the commercials are fun, or funny, or just befuddling, but we're interested not just because we want to be entertained but because we think we can ascertain something about our popular culture by examining our million-dollar-a-minute advertisements.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There are varying forms of irony, but the easiest way to ascertain if something is ironic is to determine whether what actually happens differs from your expectations.

Britannica

To walk through a landscape in pursuit of an idea, in the belief that I will learn something that I don't already know, that there is something in this vast expanse that cannot be ascertained from just a mental understanding of the thing.

Forbes

We were engrossed in trying to ascertain the origin of something on a skewer when I felt a faint brush against my shoulder bag and turned around to see a woman dart off into the crowd.

The New York Times - Travel

From the rest of Twitter, which got very active at 10.31pm, I ascertained that the something is not nice.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Obama's election is the acid test, pardon the expression, for what happens when we achieve something difficult to ascertain let alone accomplish.

TechCrunch

It has already been incorporated into an app called Facemetrix, which can track a child's eyes to ascertain whether they are reading something on a phone or tablet or not.

TechCrunch

An office or strategy for innovation in government (or government transformation) should be focused on culture change providing the room to "fail forward," to take risks and make (small) mistakes, to experiment, launch, and reiterate and once something works, to ascertain how it can be scaled.

TechCrunch

With E4's Made in Chelsea on Monday, I used presenter Rick Edwards's 1,435-times 1,435-timesbseretweetedobservation toascertainr is pleased abouthatmething.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In gamer speak, as far as I can ascertain, it means to try to shoot something while impersonating a rampaging Dr. Zoidberg.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ascertain something" when you need to emphasize a careful and systematic effort to find out a fact or truth.

Common error

Avoid using "ascertain something" in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "find out something" or "figure out something" for everyday communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain something" functions as a transitive verb phrase, where "ascertain" takes a direct object. It indicates the act of discovering or establishing a fact, truth, or piece of information. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is commonly used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ascertain something" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that conveys the action of discovering or establishing a fact or truth. Ludwig AI validates its widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While versatile, its formal tone makes it less appropriate for casual conversation. Consider alternative phrases like "determine something" or "find out something" depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine something

Replaces "ascertain" with "determine", which implies a more conclusive finding.

establish something

Replaces "ascertain" with "establish", suggesting setting something firmly in place as a fact.

discover something

Uses "discover" instead of "ascertain", focusing on the act of finding something previously unknown.

verify something

Replaces "ascertain" with "verify", which emphasizes confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

confirm something

Uses "confirm" instead of "ascertain", highlighting the validation of something.

figure out something

Replaces "ascertain" with the more informal "figure out", indicating a problem-solving approach.

find out something

Uses "find out" which is a simpler and more direct way of saying ascertain.

learn something

Replaces "ascertain" with "learn", indicating the acquisition of knowledge.

uncover something

Uses "uncover" which focuses on revealing something hidden.

investigate something

Replaces "ascertain" with "investigate", implying a more formal and thorough examination.

FAQs

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

You can use "ascertain something" when you want to express the act of finding out or determining something, as in, "The detective tried to ascertain the truth behind the mysterious event."

What can I say instead of "ascertain something"?

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

Which is correct, "ascertain something" or "assertain something"?

"Ascertain something" is the correct spelling and usage. "Assertain" is a misspelling.

What's the difference between "ascertain something" and "assume something"?

"Ascertain something" means to discover or establish something definitely, while "assume something" means to suppose something is true without proof.