determine the whereabouts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "determine the whereabouts" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to find out or discover the location of someone or something. Example: "The police were trying to determine the whereabouts of the suspect." In this sentence, the word "whereabouts" refers to the specific location of the suspect that the police are trying to find. Another example could be, "I need to determine the whereabouts of my missing keys before I can leave for work." In this case, the speaker is trying to find out where their keys are located before they can leave their house.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Careful probes would determine the whereabouts of the Iraqi leadership.

The New York Times

It says it is "still unable to establish any contact or determine the whereabouts of flight MH370".

The Guardian

Police are now trying to determine the whereabouts of his mother and father, local media have reported.

Independent

Officials, families and aid agencies from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and other countries were trying to determine the whereabouts of their nationals in Nepal.

The Guardian

Here's the statement in full: Malaysia Airlines is still unable to establish any contact or determine the whereabouts of flight MH370.

The Guardian

American officials are intent on gathering the data needed to quickly determine the whereabouts of terrorism suspects; the Germans start with privacy concerns.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

More than a month after the attacks, Mexican authorities still have not determined the whereabouts of the 43 students, undermining President Enrique Peña Nieto's claims that Mexico has become safer under his watch.

The Guardian

Richard Buckley, of the University of Leicester archaeology service, said: "The big question for us is determining the whereabouts of the church on the site and also where in the church the body was buried.

BBC

But the Office of Refugee Resettlement was unable to determine the current whereabouts of 1,475 of the 7,635 children who had been placed last year.

The Washington Post

The mall attack yielded intelligence leads, as militants actively discussed the days-long siege in Kenya among themselves; tracing those discussions made it easier to determine the militants' whereabouts.

The New York Times

Detectives also began tracking the movements of several hundred registered sex offenders living within their jurisdiction to determine the individuals' whereabouts on 17 December.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "determine the whereabouts", ensure the context clearly indicates what or whom you are trying to locate. For instance, "The investigators sought to determine the whereabouts of the missing documents."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "whereabouts". The phrase typically stands alone or is followed by a clarifying phrase introduced by "of". Incorrect: "determine the whereabouts at the suspect", correct: "determine the whereabouts of the suspect".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "determine the whereabouts" typically functions as a verb phrase, indicating the act of finding or establishing someone or something's location. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "determine the whereabouts" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that signifies the act of finding or establishing a location. Ludwig AI affirms that it follows standard grammatical rules. This phrase is found across various contexts, including news, academia, and scientific publications. While generally neutral in register, the level of formality can shift depending on the source. Semantically related alternatives include "establish the location of" and "ascertain the location of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

establish the location of

Focuses on confirming the position, implying a need for verification.

ascertain the location of

Suggests a more formal and careful effort to find out the position.

find out the location of

A more direct and informal way to express the act of discovering where someone or something is.

discover the location of

Emphasizes the finding of a previously unknown position.

locate the position of

Highlights the act of pinpointing the precise spot.

track down the location of

Implies a more challenging search to find the position.

detect the location of

Suggests using some kind of device or tool to identify the spot.

uncover the location of

Hints at revealing a hidden or obscured position.

work out the position of

Suggests finding the location through reasoning or calculation.

pinpoint the location of

Highlights the act of finding the precise spot.

FAQs

How can I use "determine the whereabouts" in a sentence?

You can use "determine the whereabouts" when you need to find out the location of something or someone. For example, "The authorities are working to determine the whereabouts of the stolen artifact."

What's a more formal way to say "determine the whereabouts"?

A more formal alternative to "determine the whereabouts" is to "ascertain the location of". This suggests a more thorough and careful investigation.

What can I say instead of "determine the whereabouts"?

You can use alternatives like "establish the location of", "locate the position of", or "find out the location of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "determining the whereabouts"?

Yes, "determining the whereabouts" is grammatically correct. It functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a subject or part of a verb phrase. For instance, "Determining the whereabouts of the missing person is our top priority."