determine possible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "determine possible" is not correct and lacks clarity in written English.
It may be intended to express the action of identifying or assessing what is feasible or achievable in a given context. Example: "We need to determine possible solutions to the problem before making a decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine possible determinants of influenza vaccination uptake.

BMC Public Health

That body and the International Olympic Committee will also determine possible action against Young's relay teammates.

The New York Times - Sports

A further aim was to determine possible sources of ignition in this energetic system.

Combustion and Flame

The Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) application uses algorithms and artificial intelligence to determine possible combinations of characters in manuscripts.

University of California, Berkeley

Contact angle measurement provided quantitative data to determine possible CHF enhancement based on existing correlations.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

The dynamic mechanical properties were evaluated to determine possible correlation with erosion rate of these composites.

Computational Materials Science

Further studies are needed to determine possible risk factors for Legionnaires' disease in hemodialysis patients.

Transplantation Proceedings

After comparing function structures for common and unique functions, rules are applied to determine possible modules.

Design Studies

To determine possible differences between the control of hypertension in elderly patients and in young patients.

Atención Primaria

The objective of this study is to determine possible causes of thermal runaway incidents.

Process Safety and Environmental Protection

To determine possible differences when incentive spirometry is added to classic respiratory physiotherapy.

Fisioterapia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "determine possible" with stronger verbs like "identify", "assess", or "evaluate" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness. For instance, instead of "determine possible causes", use "identify potential causes".

Common error

Using "determine" with "possible" creates redundancy. "Determine" implies certainty, while "possible" indicates uncertainty. Choose a verb that aligns with the uncertainty, such as "explore", "investigate", or "assess".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "determine possible" functions as a way to express the act of identifying or assessing potential outcomes, causes, or factors. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is incorrect. Using alternative verbs like "identify", "assess", or "evaluate" provides better clarity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "determine possible" is frequently used across various contexts, including science, news, and academia, it is considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the use of "determine" (implying certainty) with "possible" (indicating uncertainty) creates a contradiction. Better alternatives include "identify potential", "assess potential", or "evaluate potential", which provide greater clarity and grammatical accuracy. To enhance writing, it's advisable to replace "determine possible" with these stronger verbs and focus on conveying the intended meaning with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

identify potential

Focuses on the act of recognizing potential options or solutions.

assess potential

Emphasizes evaluating the possibilities or capabilities that exist.

evaluate potential

Stresses the importance of judging the value or worth of possibilities.

investigate potential

Highlights the act of exploring and examining possible avenues.

explore potential

Suggests a broader examination of all possible options.

ascertain possibilities

Focuses on establishing or finding out the range of potential options.

establish probabilities

Shifts the focus to determining the likelihood of different outcomes.

uncover opportunities

Emphasizes the discovery of potential advantages or beneficial possibilities.

discern options

Highlights the process of distinguishing and recognizing various choices.

pinpoint prospects

Focuses on specifically identifying promising or likely possibilities.

FAQs

What is a better way to phrase "determine possible"?

You can use alternatives like "identify potential", "assess potential", or "evaluate potential" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "determine possible"?

No, it's not grammatically correct. "Determine" suggests finding something out with certainty, while "possible" implies uncertainty. A better phrasing would be to use verbs like "identify", "assess", or "explore" with "potential".

What does "determine possible" mean?

The phrase "determine possible" usually implies trying to find out or assess what is feasible, likely, or achievable in a given situation. However, it's better to use more precise wording such as "identify potential".

How can I use "determine possible" correctly in a sentence?

While the phrase itself is not ideal, rephrasing to "identify potential" or "assess possible" improves clarity. For example, instead of "We need to determine possible solutions", use "We need to identify potential solutions".