establish the truth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "establish the truth" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to prove or confirm that something is true. Example: The lawyer's main job is to establish the truth in the courtroom, using evidence and witness testimonies.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Let Congress establish the truth of this matter.

The New Yorker

"My only interest was to establish the truth.

Independent

They will now rely on the Goddard inquiry to establish the truth".

Independent

This time, the party filed a criminal lawsuit to have the courts establish the truth.

The New York Times

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria's finance minister, says an independent audit must establish the truth.

The Economist

"It became clear that the court is not out to establish the truth," she said.

The New York Times

It seemed terrible that between us we couldn't establish the truth".

The Guardian - Books

There would be no immediate basis on which to establish the truth of a fact.

The New Yorker

"We made every effort to establish the truth of what we were told".

The New York Times - Sports

The inquiry is needed not only to establish the truth but to restore public trust.

The Guardian

"The families absolutely want a full, independent inquiry, to establish the truth".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In journalistic writing, corroborate information from multiple sources to "establish the truth" and avoid spreading misinformation.

Common error

Avoid using "establish the truth" when you're actually presenting an opinion or interpretation. "Establishing the truth" implies an objective determination of facts, not a personal viewpoint.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "establish the truth" functions primarily as a verb phrase, with "establish" acting as a transitive verb and "the truth" serving as its direct object. It is used to describe the action of confirming or proving something to be factual. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "establish the truth" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that signifies proving or confirming something as factual. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's widely employed across various domains, with a high prevalence in news media, scientific discussions, and encyclopedic entries. While alternatives like "determine the accuracy" or "ascertain the facts" exist, "establish the truth" carries a weight of formality and commitment to objective verification. Best practices involve using it in contexts where rigorous fact-finding is paramount and avoiding its misuse for subjective opinions. Therefore, understanding its nuanced implications is key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ascertain the facts

Focuses on finding out specific details or pieces of information.

determine the accuracy

Emphasizes verifying how correct or precise something is.

verify the claims

Specifically refers to confirming if certain statements are factual.

validate the information

Highlights confirming the correctness and reliability of data.

confirm the reality

Focuses on proving the existence or genuineness of something.

prove the matter

Focuses on demonstrating the facts of an event or situation.

discover the facts

Emphasizes the process of finding previously unknown or obscured information.

uncover the reality

Highlights revealing a situation that was previously hidden or not understood.

establish the authenticity

Focuses on proving that something is genuine, not a forgery or imitation.

establish the veracity

Focuses on confirming the truthfulness or accuracy of something.

FAQs

How can I use "establish the truth" in a sentence?

You can use "establish the truth" to describe the process of proving something is factual. For example, "The purpose of the investigation is to "establish the truth" about the incident."

What is a good alternative to "establish the truth"?

Alternatives include "determine the accuracy", "verify the claims", or "ascertain the facts". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Which is correct: "establish the truth" or "find out the truth"?

"Establish the truth" implies a more formal and rigorous process of verification, whereas "find out the truth" suggests a simpler discovery. Both are correct but have slightly different connotations.

What's the difference between "establish the truth" and "seek the truth"?

"Establish the truth" focuses on confirming something as factual, while "seek the truth" implies an ongoing search without a guaranteed outcome. "Seek the truth" suggests exploration, whereas "establish the truth" suggests confirmation.