can help ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can help ascertain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the ability of something to assist in determining or discovering information. Example: "The data collected from the survey can help ascertain the preferences of our target audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Measurement of dropsize distributions can help ascertain the surface area available for absorption.

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

Big data can help ascertain the efficacy of relief work and make it more accountable by using actively acquired data (gathered through, e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or social media).

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

It is important to define key factors that can help ascertain that ICT-tools are valuable in clinical practice [ 46].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Regional surveys, particularly those including both qualitative and quantitative data collection, can help ascertain not only estimates of healthcare-associated infection outcomes, but whether data collection, definitions, and policies are uniform.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

However, including an assessment of uncertainty in a decision analysis would be advantageous because 1) it can help assess confidence in the outcomes of the model, 2) it can help ascertain the usefulness of performing additional research [ 20], and 3) can prevent bias in non-linear models [ 21].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The doctor can help ascertain that the rash on you or your child is, in fact, impetigo, as well as prescribe you the best medication.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The analysis represents one more line of evidence to help ascertain the level of confidence we can place in the functional equivalency of our dataset.

Plosone

Further work is, therefore, required to establish who is using these services in these settings to help ascertain if commissioning public health services from these providers can help reduce inequalities in health.

BMJ Open

The negative result can be attributable to the relatively low number of cases; and therefore, large-scale studies may help ascertain this assumption.

British Journal of Cancer

It provides a way to help ascertain whether individuals have qualities that help them to disseminate.

Science Magazine

This will help ascertain how adequate our care has been.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "can help ascertain", ensure that the sentence clearly identifies what is providing the assistance and what is being determined. For example, "Analyzing market trends can help ascertain the best time to launch a new product."

Common error

While grammatically correct, "can help ascertain" can sound slightly awkward in very formal writing. Consider alternatives like "may facilitate" or "could determine" for a smoother, more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can help ascertain" functions as a verb phrase indicating the ability or potential of something to assist in the process of finding something out definitively. Ludwig AI confirms that it is usable and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

17%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "can help ascertain" is a grammatically sound expression that suggests the potential of something to aid in determining or establishing a fact. While it appears in diverse contexts, it is most frequently found in scientific writing. According to Ludwig AI, it's correct and usable in written English. While there are many alternatives, it's important to consider the context in choosing the best fit. Be aware that while valid, it may not always be ideal for highly formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can aid in the discovery of

Swaps "help" for "aid" and "ascertain" for "discovery of", resulting in a more conventional expression.

may assist in determining

Changes the verb "help" to "assist" and "ascertain" to "determining", offering a slightly more formal tone.

might support the confirmation of

Replaces "help" with "support" and "ascertain" with "confirmation of", implying a strengthening role.

could contribute to finding out

Replaces "help" with "contribute" and "ascertain" with the more informal "finding out".

can be instrumental in discovering

Substitutes "help" with "instrumental" and "ascertain" with "discovering", emphasizing the importance of the contribution.

can lend a hand in verifying

Offers a more casual alternative, substituting "help" with "lend a hand" and "ascertain" with "verifying".

might be useful for learning

Replaces "help" with "useful" and "ascertain" with "learning", suggesting a practical benefit for gaining knowledge.

can play a role in establishing

Emphasizes the function or part that something takes to "establish" something.

may be conducive to determining

Employs more formal language, replacing "help" with "conducive to" and keeping "determining".

may facilitate the identification of

Uses more formal and technical language, replacing "help" with "facilitate" and "ascertain" with "identification of".

FAQs

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

Use "can help ascertain" to show that something is useful in discovering or establishing a fact. For example, "Careful analysis of the data can help ascertain the root cause of the problem."

What are some alternatives to "can help ascertain"?

You can use alternatives like "may assist in determining", "could contribute to finding out", or "can aid in the discovery of" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "can help ascertain" or "can ascertain"?

"Can ascertain" implies a direct ability to determine something, while "can help ascertain" suggests that it provides assistance in that determination. The choice depends on whether the subject is directly determining something or simply aiding in the process.

What is the difference between "can help ascertain" and "can help determine"?

While both phrases are similar, "can help determine" is generally more versatile. "Can help ascertain" often implies a more precise or conclusive finding.