ascertain them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascertain them" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express the action of finding out or determining specific information or details about something or someone. Example: "Before making a decision, it is important to ascertain them to ensure you have all the necessary facts."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Nevertheless, in vitro functional studies are needed to ascertain them and, if possible, they should be made before considering a variation as a pathological mutation or as a functional polymorphism.

Plosone

Information sources used to develop health state descriptions varied, but there was no reference to stroke patients' perspectives; no studies included primary research with patients to ascertain them.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Numerous researchers, including ourselves, have studied polymorphic Alu insertion loci by first ascertaining them in a small set of individuals and then genotyping them in a larger set using locus-specific PCR primers and gel electrophoresis [ 4, 43- 45].

BMC Genomics

Participants' presenting visual acuity (PVA) was ascertained with them wearing their habitual optical corrections (spectacles).

BMC Public Health

Some parents may not be familiar with such medical terms and this would need to be ascertained from them at an early stage in the consultation.

Best Practice and Research in Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

Mathesius put it like this: " … linguistic characterology deals only with the important and fundamental features of a given language at a given point in time, analyses them on the basis of general linguistics and tries to ascertain relations between them" [1964: 59].

Functional Linguistics

As quantum mechanics has taught us, things are inexorably changed by our trying to ascertain anything about them.

The New Yorker

The results of single-diode and two-diode models are evaluated in order to ascertain which of them are more accurate.

Energy Conversion and Management

Police seized the drugs and are trying to ascertain who dropped them off in the first place.

Huffington Post

However, clear breaches of systems designed to promote safety need to be examined to ascertain whether underlying them were social, organisational or work flow factors influencing 'work-around' behaviour.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

When students first open Yup, a bot briefly interviews them to ascertain what subject matter and level of tutoring help they need to match them with an ideal tutor.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the subject pronoun "them" clearly refers to a previously mentioned noun or idea to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "ascertain" is generally suitable for formal and professional contexts, using "ascertain them" in very informal settings may sound overly stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "find out about them" or "learn about them" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain them" functions as a transitive verb phrase where "ascertain" is the verb and "them" is the direct object pronoun. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ascertain them" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to denote the act of finding out or establishing information about a specific group of items or ideas, as mentioned by Ludwig AI. It tends to be employed in formal and scientific contexts, although it also appears in news and media. When writing, ensure the pronoun "them" has a clear antecedent and be mindful of the formality level, opting for simpler alternatives in casual settings. Remember to also verify the accuracy of the facts that you "ascertain".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine them

Replaces "ascertain" with a synonym, keeping the overall meaning the same but offering a slightly different tone.

establish them

Similar to "ascertain", but implies a more definitive and conclusive finding.

find them out

Uses a phrasal verb to convey the meaning of discovering something that was previously unknown.

discover them

Emphasizes the act of uncovering or becoming aware of something.

verify them

Focuses on confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

confirm them

Similar to "verify", but suggests a stronger degree of certainty.

learn about them

Broader in scope, suggesting gaining knowledge about something without necessarily reaching a definitive conclusion.

investigate them

Implies a more thorough and systematic examination to uncover information.

look into them

Similar to "investigate", but often suggests a less formal or in-depth inquiry.

get to the bottom of them

Idiomatic expression indicating a desire to fully understand something, often a problem or mystery.

FAQs

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

You can use "ascertain them" when referring to a group of things or ideas and expressing the action of finding something out about those things or ideas. For example: "Before making a decision, it is important to ascertain them to ensure you have all the necessary facts."

What are some alternatives to "ascertain them"?

Some alternatives to "ascertain them" include "determine them", "establish them", or "find them out", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "ascertain them" formal or informal?

"Ascertain them" tends to be more formal due to the verb "ascertain". In informal contexts, phrases like "find out about them" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "ascertain them" and "verify them"?

"Ascertain them" implies discovering or establishing something, while "verify them" means confirming the truth or accuracy of something. The choice depends on whether you're initially finding something out or confirming something already suspected.