determining the whereabouts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "determining the whereabouts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of finding or establishing the location of someone or something. Example: "The detective was focused on determining the whereabouts of the missing person."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 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

Whatever findings the panel uncovers in its hours of testimony Thursday, it is unlikely to determine the whereabouts of the missing customer cash.

The New York Times

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

The Guardian

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

In its announcement of the prisoner swap, the State Department said, "Iran has also committed to continue cooperating with the United States to determine the whereabouts of Robert Levinson".

The New Yorker

After the two shook hands, Murray, limping, tried to determine the whereabouts of a watch from his sponsor Rado, which he needed to wear in the trophy ceremony.

The New York Times

"Pentagon investigators are trying to determine the whereabouts of [Assange] for fear that he may be about to publish a huge cache of classified state department cables that, if made public, could do serious damage to national security," US web paper the Daily Beast reported 10 days ago.

The Guardian

Patients were followed up 1 week after the diagnosis of delirium was made to determine the whereabouts of the patients, the current mental status according to discharge letters or standard delirium scoring tools and whether haloperidol was still being administered.

Annals of Intensive Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "determining the whereabouts" when the process of finding someone or something involves investigation, deduction, or a series of actions.

Common error

Avoid using passive constructions when "determining the whereabouts". Active voice makes the sentence more direct and clear. Instead of "The whereabouts were being determined by the police", try "The police were determining the whereabouts".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "determining the whereabouts" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It signifies the action of finding or establishing a location through investigation or systematic effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "determining the whereabouts" is a grammatically correct and commonly used gerund phrase that signifies the process of finding or establishing a location, often through investigation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's best suited for neutral to professional contexts, such as news reporting and investigative analysis. When using the phrase, prioritize active voice for clarity and consider synonyms like "ascertaining the location" or "establishing the location" to vary your writing. The phrase is frequently found in News & Media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ascertaining the location

Focuses on discovering the specific place or position.

establishing the location

Emphasizes confirming or proving where someone or something is.

locating

A shorter, more direct synonym for finding someone or something.

finding the location of

More verbose but clarifies the act of discovering location.

pinpointing the location of

Implies finding a precise location.

tracking down

Suggests a more active search to discover the location.

uncovering the whereabouts

Hints at revealing a previously unknown location.

discovering the location of

Implies finding something previously hidden or unknown.

identifying the location

Focuses on confirming what location matches specific criteria.

figuring out the location

Suggests a problem-solving approach to finding the location.

FAQs

What does "determining the whereabouts" mean?

The phrase "determining the whereabouts" refers to the process of finding out or establishing the location of someone or something, often through investigation or inquiry.

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

You might say, "The investigation focused on determining the whereabouts of the missing documents," or "Officials are still determining the whereabouts of the survivors after the earthquake."

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

You can use alternatives like "ascertaining the location", "establishing the location", or "locating" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "determining the whereabouts" or "finding the location"?

"Determining the whereabouts" often implies a more complex or investigative process than simply "finding the location". Use "determining the whereabouts" when the location is not immediately obvious and requires effort to discover.