determine interest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "determine interest" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where you are assessing or identifying someone's level of interest in a topic or activity. For example: "We need to determine interest in the new product before launching it." Alternative expressions include "assess interest" and "evaluate interest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

That yield helps determine interest rates on mortgages and other consumer loans.

The New York Times

It called for an "acceleration" of moves to let the market determine interest rates.

The Economist

Research conducted in the United States provides major insights into the factors that determine interest group influence.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the United States and elsewhere, central bankers were given space to determine interest rates without political meddling because the existing model had failed.

The Guardian - Business

Although the central bank gained the power to determine interest rates, it lost its supervisory powers over banks to the new Financial Services Authority FSAA).

The Economist

THE state of the housing market is certain to have featured large in the Bank of England's monthly meeting to determine interest rates this week.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

For this reason, the housing market is likely to determine interest-rate decisions, not the other way round.

The Economist

The market held steady in the shadow of tomorrow's Federal Reserve meeting, which is set to determine interest-rate policy.

Forbes

My favorite of these approaches is to think of IS-LM as a way to reconcile two seemingly incompatible views about what determines interest rates.

The New York Times

The government's statistics agency said that its consumer price index, the central bank's main gauge for determining interest rates, rose 0.61percentt last month after climbing 0.59percentt in February.

The New York Times

For the past five and a half years, one of the firm's founders, Laurence Meyer, has been a governor of the Fed, where he sits on the committee that determines interest rates.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific research, use it to describe the initial screening process for study participants during recruitment.

Common error

Avoid using "determine interest" when you mean "determined interest". The former is an action (to find out), while the latter is a state of being (to be resolute). For example, "we must determine interest in the project" is different from "he has a determined interest in the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "determine interest" functions primarily as a transitive verb phrase. In this construction, "determine" acts as the action verb requiring a direct object, which is "interest". Based on Ludwig AI data, it is frequently used in the infinitive form ("to determine interest") or as part of a compound predicate. It serves to establish a value, a level of engagement or a state of affairs.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "determine interest" is a robust and grammatically sound phrase that bridges the gap between macro-economics and social research. Ludwig AI shows its high prevalence in elite publications like The New York Times and The Economist, particularly when discussing how market forces or central banks set interest rates. Simultaneously, it is a staple of scientific methodology for describing participant recruitment. When using this phrase, writers should ensure the context distinguishes between discovering a factual value and assessing a human emotion. For more nuanced writing, consider alternatives like "<a href="/s/assess+interest" target="_blank" rel="alternative">assess interest" for formal evaluations or "<a href="/s/gauge+interest" target="_blank" rel="alternative">gauge interest" for informal sentiment checks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assess interest

Suggests a more structured or formal evaluation process.

evaluate interest

Implies a deeper analysis of the quality or depth of the interest.

identify interest

Focuses on discovering whether any interest exists at all.

gauge interest

Often used for measuring the intensity or 'temperature' of interest.

ascertain interest

A more formal and definitive way to say you are finding out the facts.

measure interest

Suggests a quantitative approach or a precise metric.

probe interest

Implies an active investigation or questioning to reveal hidden interest.

survey interest

Specific to using tools like questionnaires to gather data.

check interest

A more casual or brief version used in everyday communication.

quantify interest

Strictly limited to turning interest levels into numerical data.

FAQs

How to use "determine interest" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the act of finding out someone's preference or an economic value, such as: "The committee met to determine interest rates for the upcoming quarter" or "We conducted a survey to determine interest in the new fitness program".

What can I say instead of "determine interest"?

Depending on your context, you can use more specific alternatives like "<a href="/s/assess+interest" target="_blank" rel="alternative">assess interest", "<a href="/s/gauge+interest" target="_blank" rel="alternative">gauge interest" or "<a href="/s/identify+interest" target="_blank" rel="alternative">identify interest".

Is it "determine interest" or "determine the interest"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they carry different nuances. Use "determine interest" for general sentiment or a category (e.g., "determine interest in sports"), and use "<a href="/s/determine+the+interest" target="_blank" rel="alternative">determine the interest" when referring to a specific, previously mentioned interest or a calculated rate.

What is the difference between "determine interest" and "gauge interest"?

While both involve measurement, "determine interest" sounds more conclusive and formal. In contrast, "<a href="/s/gauge+interest" target="_blank" rel="alternative">gauge interest" often implies a more preliminary or tentative estimation of a mood or trend.