determine with certainty

USAGE SUMMARY

"determine with certainty" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this expression when you are sure of something or if you would like to emphasize that you are sure of something. For example: "We were able to determine with certainty that the suspect was innocent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the researchers were not able to determine with certainty who controlled the system.

The New York Times - Science

"Both should acknowledge serious irregularities in the vote tallying which made it impossible to determine with certainty the final result".

The New York Times

Born into a peasant family, Marulanda was never able to determine with certainty the year of his birth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"We want to determine with certainty that our efforts to aid any particular platform are a net positive for our online community, publication and staff," it said.

The Guardian - Tech

Published accounts so far have found the ballots so confounding and the rules in Florida so patchwork that they have not been able to determine with certainty the number of votes won by George W. Bush or Al Gore.

The New York Times

Vision is blurred during the hundred milliseconds or so of a saccade, so the brain is unable to determine with certainty whether any objects in the field of view have changed positions.

The New York Times - Science

We can never determine with certainty whether plants feel pain or whether their perception of injury is sufficiently like that of animals to be called by the same word.

The New Yorker

Ford Motor bid $6.9 billion for Daewoo Motor last summer but withdrew the bid in September, with Ford executives complaining privately that even after studying Daewoo's books, they could not determine with certainty what the company was worth or how much it owed.

The New York Times

He still believes it is impossible to determine with certainty when a healthy bull market turns into a speculative bubble, but he has also told colleagues that he now suspects that what is happening on Wall Street has elements of a bubble.

The New Yorker

Ben Caspit, writing in Ma'ariv, said: "The picture of the bomb … portrayed a certain charming childishness, but in the same breath we can determine with certainty that this picture will be broadcast over and over in every language to the television viewers, and Netanyahu, as they say, will have made his point".

The Guardian

In most cases, he said, the only way to determine with certainty whether mold is growing inside a central heating system is to gain access to the coil, its lining and the blower, and take a dust sample from the surface of the components.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "determine with certainty", make sure that the context provides a clear indication of how this determination was achieved, lending credibility to your assertion.

Common error

Avoid using "determine with certainty" when your evidence is weak or inconclusive; instead, use more cautious language like "strongly suggest" or "indicate" to maintain accuracy and integrity in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "determine with certainty" functions as a declarative expression, signifying a conclusive decision or finding. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and its usage is widespread. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its role in stating assured outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "determine with certainty" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression that conveys a high degree of assurance in a conclusion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is deemed correct for written English. Appearing frequently in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts, it serves to assert findings with confidence. While its usage is generally neutral to formal, writers should ensure that the certainty expressed is supported by adequate evidence to maintain credibility. Alternatives like "establish with absolute certainty" or "ascertain beyond any doubt" can offer stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Establish with absolute certainty

Replaces "determine" with "establish" and emphasizes the completeness of the certainty.

Ascertain beyond any doubt

Uses "ascertain" instead of "determine" and intensifies the certainty by negating doubt.

Confirm without question

Substitutes "determine" with "confirm" and assures the certainty by eliminating questions.

Conclusively establish

Replaces the whole phrase with the adverb "conclusively" and verb "establish".

Definitively determine

Uses "definitively" to emphasize the conclusive nature of the determination.

Find out for sure

More informal alternative, replacing "determine with certainty" with a colloquial expression.

Establish with conviction

Uses "conviction" to highlight strong belief in what has been established.

Determine with confidence

Replaces "certainty" with "confidence", shifting the focus to the assessor's state of mind.

Identify with precision

Shifts the focus to accurate identification rather than absolute certainty.

Settle beyond dispute

Focuses on resolving a matter so thoroughly that no dispute can arise.

FAQs

How can I use "determine with certainty" in a sentence?

Use "determine with certainty" when you want to express that something has been established without any doubt. For example, "The investigation allowed us to determine with certainty that the documents were authentic."

What phrases are similar to "determine with certainty"?

Alternatives to "determine with certainty" include phrases like "establish with absolute certainty", "ascertain beyond any doubt", or "confirm without question".

Is it always appropriate to use "determine with certainty"?

No, you should only use "determine with certainty" when you have strong evidence and are sure of your conclusion. If there is any doubt, it's better to use less assertive language.

What is the difference between "determine with certainty" and "determine with confidence"?

"Determine with certainty" implies an objective, fact-based conclusion that leaves no room for doubt. "Determine with confidence", however, suggests a strong belief based on available evidence, but without necessarily eliminating all uncertainty.