determine

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "determine" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the process of establishing something, such as a fact, an opinion, or an outcome. For example, you could say, "The court determined that the defendant was guilty of the charges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The prime minister, Tony Abbott, said the government was "carefully studying" the judgment to determine an appropriate response, but he strongly signalled his determination to find a way to ensure the chaplaincy program continued.

The Guardian

I wanted to give society a chance to determine if it should change itself.

The Guardian

We will want to determine that those responsible for operating this ride have done what the law requires.

The Guardian

The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into what went wrong and to determine whether the theme park was operating the ride within the law.

The Guardian

We'll be reading their report closely to determine next steps".

The Guardian - Tech

At a news conference last week, Christie said he would continue interviewing his senior staff to determine if there is any other information he needs to know and if he needs to take any further action, but he did not indicate his review would go further than that.

The Guardian

" The judge told Wright he was required by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to determine whether life imprisonment, the only sentence for murder, should mean life or whether he should fix a minimum term.

The Guardian

"Investigations are ongoing to determine where this murder took place, and our priorities are to locate Mr Jokubauskas and identify the body.

The Guardian

Given the close national race for control of the Senate, political forecasters have said the Kansas race, which just a weeks months ago was considered a safe Republican seat, could feasibly help determine whether Republicans or Democrats balance of power in the legislative body.

The Guardian

The success of this three-month trial will determine expanded NSA access to internet buffers in the future".

The Guardian

He said the three criteria used to determine whether two countries should be kept apart were whether they had normal diplomatic relations, whether there was an ongoing military or armed conflict and whether there had been a request made by either national association to be kept apart.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "determine" when you want to emphasize a careful and definitive process of finding something out or making a decision. It's suitable for formal writing and situations where precision is important.

Common error

While "determine" is grammatically correct, avoid using it excessively in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "find out" or "decide" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The word "determine" functions primarily as a verb, indicating the action of finding something out definitively or making a firm decision. It's used to describe the process of ascertaining facts, establishing limits, or resolving issues, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "determine" is a versatile term used to indicate the act of finding something out definitively or making a firm decision. As Ludwig AI confirms, it follows standard grammar rules and is very common in written English. It's primarily used in contexts such as news and media, formal business settings, and scientific publications, indicating a neutral to formal register. When aiming for clarity and precision, "determine" is a strong choice. However, in informal settings, consider alternatives like "find out" or "decide" for a more relaxed tone. Remember to reserve "determine" for situations where a careful process of discovery or decision-making is emphasized.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ascertain

Focuses on discovering something with certainty, often through investigation.

establish

Emphasizes confirming or proving something to be true.

figure out

A more informal way to say "determine", implying a problem-solving approach.

find out

Simple and direct, focusing on the act of gaining information.

decide

Highlights the decision-making aspect of "determine".

resolve

Implies settling a question or problem definitively.

settle

Focuses on bringing something to a conclusion or agreement.

verify

Stresses the act of confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

confirm

Similar to "verify", but can also imply strengthening a belief or idea.

identify

Focuses on recognizing or establishing what something is.

FAQs

How to use "determine" in a sentence?

You can use "determine" to mean to find something out for certain. For example, "Investigators are working to "ascertain" the cause of the fire".

What can I say instead of "determine"?

You can use alternatives like ""ascertain"", "establish", or "figure out" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "determine whether" or "determine if"?

"Determine whether" is generally preferred in formal writing, but "determine if" is also acceptable and commonly used.

What's the difference between "determine" and "decide"?

"Determine" often involves a process of investigation or calculation to reach a conclusion, while "decide" focuses on making a choice or resolution.