be in a position to discern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be in a position to discern" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing someone's ability to understand or perceive something clearly, often in a context where judgment or insight is required. Example: "After years of experience in the field, she is now in a position to discern the subtle differences between the two approaches."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

After Rogers's death, it emerged that there were a number of people who considered him to be their closest friend, and who felt that they were in a position to discern how he would have wished to be remembered.

The New Yorker

But, on the other hand, their wildly diverse spectrum of world views may present a great challenge to their boss, if he is not in a position to discern whose view is best to adopt.

HuffPost

The saints alone are in an epistemic position to discern truths of religion that are dependent on the "excellency of divine things".

SEP

"He'd been with me for nearly four years and I was his mom- I was in the best position to discern what those needs were".

Huffington Post

As Machiavelli correctly wrote, "a prince who is not prudent himself cannot be well-advised". The president must be in a position – or possess prudence – to discern the best advice and have the courage to follow it.

HuffPost

On the front lines, American consular officials overseas, who issued 7.1 million temporary visas last year and denied 2.4 million others, need to be in a better position to make discerning judgments about those seeking to enter the country.

The New York Times

Decision makers also felt that physicians would be in the best position to inform decision makers on what is considered best practice within each specialty, and to assist in discerning priorities accordingly.

BMC Health Services Research

Variation in ROI position can lead to differences in quantitative outcomes, and this is compounded when reference landmarks are difficult for an operator to discern.

Journal of Clinical Densitometry

However, when using a monocular eye tracking system, it is not easy to discern an accurate position of the region-of-interest of the user in a three-dimensional space.

Sensors and Actuators A: Physical

Many of them appeared to occupy lowly positions on a ladder whose existence she was only just beginning to discern.

The New Yorker

And in others, the staining was diffuse, making it difficult to discern its position within cells.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to emphasize that someone has the necessary experience, knowledge, or perspective to make an accurate judgment or understand a complex situation. For example: "After completing the training, the inspectors will be in a position to discern fraudulent activities."

Common error

Avoid using this phrase in situations where a simpler word like "understand" or "recognize" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose. Instead of saying, "I am in a position to discern that you are tired", simply say, "I can see that you are tired".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be in a position to discern" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing a state of readiness or qualification to understand or judge something. It indicates that someone has the necessary knowledge, experience, or perspective to make informed decisions or judgments. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be in a position to discern" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe someone's readiness or qualification to understand or judge something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While it's relatively rare, it's most commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, remember to use it when you want to emphasize someone's expertise or insight, but avoid using it in situations where simpler words would suffice. Alternatives such as "be able to distinguish" or "be capable of understanding" may be suitable depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be capable of discerning

This alternative focuses on the inherent capability to discern, similar to the original phrase.

be able to distinguish

This alternative emphasizes the ability to see differences, which is a key aspect of discerning.

have the insight to perceive

This alternative highlights the insightful nature of understanding something.

be well-placed to judge

This alternative focuses on being in a favorable situation to make a judgment.

be suitably situated to understand

This alternative emphasizes the suitability of one's situation for understanding.

be qualified to determine

This alternative stresses the qualification or expertise needed to make a determination.

be apt to recognize

This alternative suggests a natural inclination or tendency to recognize something.

be equipped to appreciate

This alternative focuses on having the necessary tools or knowledge to appreciate something.

be prepared to evaluate

This alternative emphasizes readiness and preparedness for evaluation.

have the capacity to differentiate

This alternative highlights the capability to differentiate between different things.

FAQs

How can I use "be in a position to discern" in a sentence?

This phrase indicates someone has the necessary knowledge or experience to understand something. For example, "Having worked in the industry for many years, she is now in a position to discern subtle market trends."

What can I say instead of "be in a position to discern"?

You can use alternatives like "be able to distinguish", "be capable of understanding", or "be qualified to determine depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "be in a position to discern" or "being in a position to discern"?

"Be in a position to discern" is correct when describing a state or capability. "Being in a position to discern" might be used as part of a longer clause, such as, "Being in a position to discern the truth, she made the right decision."

What's the difference between "be in a position to discern" and "be able to discern"?

"Be in a position to discern" often implies that someone has gained knowledge or experience that enables them to understand something, whereas "be able to discern" simply suggests they have the ability to understand it.