ascertain with certainty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascertain with certainty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize the act of finding out or determining something with complete assurance. Example: "After conducting several tests, we were able to ascertain with certainty the cause of the malfunction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"As it is impossible for me to ascertain with certainty who these anonymous writers are," he wrote, "I beg to suggest that another order be published holding the editors responsible for its infraction".

The New York Times

However, this sequence of events would not ascertain with certainty that an infarct was the underlying etiology, as each particular hallucination/headache episode would certainly not result in an infarct indefinitely.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

DNA damage is difficult to ascertain with certainty.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Fourth, the outcomes were measured at one point in time so it is not possible to ascertain with certainty the direction of relationships reported.

BMC Psychiatry

Although we cannot ascertain with certainty how many exons and partial exons each sequence tag spans, we expect that they too generate multiple localizations to a single exon.

BMC Genomics

With such losses to follow-up it was hard to ascertain with certainty what the true outcomes were at study completion for the patients in these trials.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Hence, the impact of drought on a specific ES or even bundled ES cannot be ascertained with certainty nor is it generalizable for managed alpine grasslands.

Ecohydrology

Therefore, we used only those cases verified by multiple independent reviewers and limited our analyses to cases for which the cause of death could be ascertained with certainty.

British Medical Journal

Since we carried out a cross-sectional study, cause-effect relationships concerning the relationship of hs-CRP and SAA with bilirubin cannot be ascertained with certainty.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

For example, in Florida, "If we were omniscient, or if time were of no moment, we could probably do the fair thing and ascertain with near certainty how everyone voted," Professor Gillers said.

The New York Times

And although many of the non-experimental studies are based on state-of-the-art methodologies, it is typically hard to ascertain with absolute certainty that the results really capture the causal effects of interest, and not the unobserved sorting into the various types of programs.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ascertain with certainty" when you want to strongly emphasize that something has been definitively determined and there is no doubt about it. It adds a layer of formality and precision to your writing.

Common error

While "ascertain with certainty" is a valid phrase, overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive or overly formal. Consider using simpler alternatives like "determine" or "confirm" when the emphasis on absolute certainty isn't necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain with certainty" functions as a verbal phrase that emphasizes the definitive and conclusive nature of a determination or discovery. As evidenced by Ludwig, the phrase is typically used to convey a high degree of confidence in the result of an investigation or analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ascertain with certainty" is a grammatically correct and usable expression used to emphasize that something has been definitively determined without doubt. Ludwig AI analysis confirms it's suitable for formal contexts. While the phrase is more frequently used in scientific, news, and formal settings, it's important to avoid overuse to maintain writing clarity. Alternative phrases like "determine with absolute confidence" or "establish beyond doubt" can offer similar emphasis without repetition. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase adds strength to writing when precision and clarity are paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine with absolute confidence

Replaces "ascertain" with "determine" and "certainty" with "absolute confidence", emphasizing a strong feeling of assurance.

establish beyond doubt

Focuses on the act of proving something to be true without any possibility of questioning.

confirm with utmost assurance

Emphasizes the act of verifying something with the highest level of confidence.

verify with complete accuracy

Highlights the act of checking or proving something with perfect correctness.

establish with irrefutable proof

Emphasizes the use of evidence that cannot be denied or disproved to establish something.

ascertain without question

Implies a level of certainty where there is no room for doubt or uncertainty.

determine conclusively

Focuses on reaching a final and definitive decision or conclusion.

establish definitively

Similar to "determine conclusively", but emphasizes the act of setting something in a final and unchangeable state.

ascertain unequivocally

Stresses the clarity and lack of ambiguity in the determination.

ascertain for certain

Shortens the phrase while maintaining the core meaning of confirming something without doubt.

FAQs

How can I use "ascertain with certainty" in a sentence?

You can use "ascertain with certainty" to emphasize a definitive conclusion. For example, "After conducting several tests, the scientists could "ascertain with certainty" that the new drug was effective".

What are some alternatives to "ascertain with certainty"?

Alternatives include "determine with confidence", "establish beyond doubt", or "confirm with utmost assurance". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "ascertain with certainty"?

While "ascertain" already implies a degree of certainty, using "ascertain with certainty" can further emphasize the completeness and lack of doubt in the determination. However, be mindful of overuse to avoid sounding repetitive.

What is the difference between "ascertain" and "ascertain with certainty"?

"Ascertain" means to find something out for certain. Adding "with certainty" reinforces the idea that the information is known without any doubt. It is used for emphasis and to avoid ambiguity.