determine among

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "determine among" is not commonly used in written English and may not be the best choice.
It can be used when discussing the process of making a decision or choice from a set of options, but "determine between" is more standard. Example: "We need to determine among the various proposals which one best fits our needs."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Such a test would allow epidemiologists to conduct studies to determine, among other things, how long someone infected with SARS could shed the virus.

The New York Times

An autopsy was to be performed over the weekend to determine, among other things, how many of the 27 shots struck the man.

The New York Times

Those recommendations are contained in the government's new dietary guidelines, which are updated every five years, and determine, among other things, the nutritional content of lunches served to 26 million schoolchildren every day.

The New York Times

The patches are pretty and all that remains is to await a reaction, which will determine, among other things, whether we can go forward with our plans to give her a nylon nightgown for Christmas, or switch to Canton flannel.

The New Yorker

Separately, federal officials started collecting data last year to determine, among other things, if the rate of complications from implant surgery differs between heart device specialists and other doctors.

The New York Times

On any given day, he and his colleagues review a list of six city-approved landfills in Pennsylvania and determine, among other factors, whether they can get a truck to one of the sites before it closes.

The New York Times

She was about to start a study of the long-term effects of the medication to determine, among other things, whether it would continue to quiet the desire for drugs when she discovered Mr. Coleman.

The New York Times - Health

The party caucuses to determine, among other things, whether candidates will face primary elections, are to be held next Tuesday, and Mr. Herrod said the states rights' crowd would attend and push for change.

The New York Times

The audit is also expected to be forwarded to the N.C.A.A., which will determine, among other things, if the university showed a lack of institutional control and if any penalties are warranted.

The New York Times - Sports

In 2011, the F.D.A. ordered manufacturers of all-metal hips to conduct post-marketing studies to determine, among other things, whether the implants were shedding high levels of metallic debris.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

To determine among-population difference in mosquito mortality rate in WHO insecticide susceptibility bioassay, univariate analysis of variance was conducted using arcsin transformation.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, ensure that "among" is used when discussing more than two options, and "between" when discussing two options only. Even if "determine among" is grammatically acceptable, consider if it's the most effective choice for your audience.

Common error

A common mistake is using "between" when there are more than two options. While "determine among" is valid, ensure it's appropriate for the number of choices. If only two options exist, "determine between" is the better choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "determine among" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the process of making a decision or identifying a specific item from a set of possibilities. Ludwig indicates that the expression is acceptable, though not the most common choice.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "determine among" is grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests it is less common than alternatives like "determine between" or "choose from". It is most frequently used in scientific and formal contexts, indicating the process of making a decision or selecting from multiple options. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and consider the number of options to avoid confusion. Opting for more common alternatives may enhance readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decide between

Focuses on choosing one option from two possibilities, a more standard phrasing.

choose from

Emphasizes the act of selecting one or more items from a group.

select among

Similar to "determine among" but places more emphasis on the act of selection.

ascertain from

Highlights the process of finding something out, or figuring out what is the truth.

discern between

Emphasizes a careful and subtle act of perceiving or discriminating.

distinguish between

Highlights the act of recognizing or pointing out differences.

differentiate between

Similar to distinguish, it focuses on identifying differences.

identify from

Focuses on recognizing a specific item or characteristic from a group.

establish amongst

Highlights the act of demostrating or concluding something amongst other possibilities.

assess among

It implies that there's an evaluation process to be made to choose between different elements.

FAQs

Is "determine among" grammatically correct?

While grammatically acceptable, "determine among" is less common than alternatives like "determine between" or "choose from". Its appropriateness depends on context and desired clarity.

When should I use "determine among" versus "determine between"?

"Determine among" is used when selecting from three or more options. "Determine between" is used when selecting from only two options.

What are some alternatives to "determine among"?

Alternatives include "decide between", "choose from", "select among", and "ascertain from", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

How can I make my writing clearer when using "determine among"?

Ensure the context clearly indicates the options being considered. If the number of options is small or unclear, rephrasing with "determine between" or "choose from" may improve clarity.