ascertain with him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascertain with him" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when you want to suggest confirming or verifying something with a specific person. Example: "Before making a decision, I need to ascertain with him whether he agrees with the proposed plan."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I am still unable to ascertain with any degree of certainty the cause of Rachel's death.

The Guardian

"But we all know that there are ways to ascertain with high confidence the general approach that potential justices will take to the Constitution".

The New York Times

I'm not in favor of specific, narrow litmus tests, but we all know that there are ways to ascertain with high confidence the general approach that potential justices will take to the Constitution.

The New York Times

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

The microstructural origin of this behavior is difficult to ascertain with macroscopic observations.

Fuel

And he was in a position to ascertain, with at least reasonable certainty, the condition of the bank at or before the sale of his stock to Gruetter & Joers.

Cornell University

3) He had superior olfactory capability; he could smell barbecue from four miles away, attaining such mastery that he could ascertain, with the faintest nostril quivering, if the stuff on the grill had just been thrown on, or was about to come off, and acted accordingly.

The New Yorker

By the early 1990s, DNA identification could ascertain with 99.99 percent accuracy the genetic relationship between grandmother and grandchildren, or uncle and nephew.

HuffPost

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

Whether 100 Days Action actually changed anyone's mind about politics is difficult to ascertain with any certainty, but Contreras attests that the project did succeed in galvanizing the will of those involved by helping to hone their ability to take care of themselves as they continue their resistance.

Vice

Hence, we were unable to ascertain with confidence whether any particular A/H1N1pdm virus genotype trended with A/H1N1pdm infection severity in our nationwide survey.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider restructuring your sentence to use alternatives like "verify with him" or "confirm with him" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "ascertain with him" as it sounds unnatural. Opt for simpler and more direct alternatives such as "check with him" or "confirm with him" to convey your intended meaning more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain with him" is intended to describe the action of confirming or verifying something with a specific person. However, the phrasing is somewhat awkward and not commonly used.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ascertain with him" is not a common or natural-sounding expression in English. While the intention is understandable—to convey the act of confirming or verifying information with a specific person—it is generally better to use clearer and more direct alternatives. As Ludwig AI points out, alternatives such as "verify with him", "confirm with him", or "check with him" are preferable. Due to the lack of examples and the availability of better options, it is recommended to avoid this phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

verify with him

Focuses on confirming the accuracy of information with the person.

confirm with him

Highlights seeking agreement or validation from him.

check with him

Emphasizes a quick inquiry to gain clarity.

ask him to verify

Shifts the responsibility of verification directly to him.

determine with his input

Highlights the collaborative aspect of reaching a conclusion.

find out from him

Focuses on extracting information or details from him.

ascertain information from him

More formal way of saying get details from him.

investigate with his help

Stresses a deeper inquiry involving his assistance.

clarify with him

Aims to remove ambiguity through his explanation.

get his perspective on

Seeks his viewpoint or understanding of a situation.

FAQs

What does "ascertain" mean?

"Ascertain" means to find something out for certain; to make sure of something. It often implies a degree of effort or investigation.

What can I say instead of "ascertain with him"?

Consider alternatives like "verify with him", "confirm with him", or "check with him" depending on the context. These are clearer and more common.

Is it grammatically correct to say "ascertain with him"?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "ascertain with him" is an unusual phrasing. It's more common to "ascertain something from him" or simply "check with him" to get confirmation.

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

Instead of "ascertain with him", try "ascertain from him", as in "I need to ascertain the facts from him before proceeding". Alternatively, rephrase with a simpler verb: "I need to "check with" him".