assess

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "assess" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the act of considering something, either formally or informally, in order to make a judgement or decision about it. For example, "My doctor asked me to assess my symptoms before making a diagnosis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It would be wrong for me to make an assessment about a coalition, our party will assess that in the coming period.

The Guardian

It is one of the bank's responsibilities to assess those that relate to its objectives.

The Guardian - Business

The shadow home secretary said the government should work more closely with the devolved institutions and councils to assess how many refugees they would be prepared to take.

The Guardian

"We are looking into the information gained by trade unions when it comes to McDonald's in order to assess if there is a case, or if we should open cases there," Vestager said.

The Guardian - Business

Prof Cooper said organisations need to assess whether board members are providing the required "added value" and look at whether the nature of the role has changed.

The Guardian

We need to remind ourselves that QAA (unlike Ofsted) does not directly assess quality: it assesses how autonomous universities assess the quality of what they themselves do.

The Guardian

The newly qualified nurse-in-charge wanted – quite rightly – to fully assess the risk.

The Guardian

"We just don't know enough yet to be able to assess what we will recommend to the Nigerians, where they need to go, what they need to do, to get those girls back," Hagel said.

The Guardian

In the introduction to this book, Germaine Greer wrote: "If we are to assess the best of her photojournalism it is to Cartier-Bresson that we must turn to find her soulmate".

The Guardian - Arts

"He'll assess things pre-season and, if you're at it, sharp and fit on the training ground, then he'll back you.

The Guardian - Sport

Over the coming months, the league will continue to assess the prospects of these markets though "no specific date for an expansion announcement has been set," Dan Courtemanche said.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose "assess" when you want to make a judgement or decision about something after considering it carefully.

Common error

While "assess" is versatile, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for alternatives like "check", "see", or "figure out" for a more natural tone in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "assess" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. As stated by Ludwig AI, it expresses the act of considering something to make a judgment. For instance, "He assessed the situation."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "assess" functions as a transitive verb that means to evaluate or determine something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. The analysis reveals that "assess" appears most frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business and Science contexts. While versatile, "assess" leans towards a neutral to professional register and overusing it in casual conversation might sound too formal. For a more natural tone, consider alternatives like "check" or "figure out". Top authoritative sources using "assess" include The Guardian and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evaluate

This is a direct synonym, often interchangeable with "assess", but can sometimes imply a more in-depth analysis.

appraise

Similar to "assess", often used in the context of valuing property or assets.

evaluate the merit of

Adds an element of judging worthiness or quality.

determine

Suggests finding out or establishing something definitively.

judge

This term implies forming an opinion or conclusion about something.

weigh up

This phrasal verb indicates considering different aspects before making a decision.

gauge

Implies measuring or estimating something, often intangible.

ascertain

Implies discovering something through investigation.

estimate

Suggests calculating or approximating a value or quantity.

take stock of

Suggests reviewing a situation to understand its current state.

FAQs

What does "assess" mean?

"Assess" means to evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of something.

How can I use "assess" in a sentence?

You can use "assess" in a sentence like, "The teacher will "evaluate" the students' understanding of the material through a quiz".

What are some synonyms for "assess"?

Synonyms for "assess" include "evaluate", "appraise", "judge", and "determine".

Is "assess" a formal word?

"Assess" is generally considered a formal word, suitable for professional or academic contexts. In informal conversation, consider using alternatives like "check" or "figure out".