establish when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "establish when" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the need to determine a specific time or date for an event or action. Example: "We need to establish when the meeting will take place to ensure everyone can attend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is also tricky to establish when this might happen.

The Guardian - Sport

Tests could take up to a month to establish when the victims died, Mr Boluchevsky added.

The Guardian

When it finally arrived, I attempted to establish when I would be able to benefit.

The Guardian - Money

It has proved harder to establish when eastern Polynesia was settled.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Absolutes are hard to establish when many victims, in the grip of an illicit people-smuggling trade, are never recovered.

The Guardian

Experts at the zoo monitored Tian Tian's hormones to establish when she would enter her brief fertile period.

The Guardian

And in the destination countries, it's up to law enforcers to establish when those objects left conflict zones.

The Guardian

A bit of common sense can establish when the reader needs reassuring that information comes from a specific source.

The Guardian

It's a bond that you can never establish when their parents are around," said Ms. Larson, known to her grandchildren as Mormor.

The New York Times - Travel

But I think we need clearer terms of engagement, to establish when and how Parliamentary scrutiny should take place, and what it should involve," Coyle said.

The Guardian

It was one of a line of examples where the Reynolds defence has proved very difficult to establish when it relying on unidentified sources.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In project management or planning documents, use "establish when" to set deadlines or milestones, ensuring all team members are aware of the timeline.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses when using "establish when". Ensure the tense matches the context of the sentence. For example, use the past tense when referring to completed events and the future tense for planned events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "establish when" functions as a verb phrase often used to indicate the need to ascertain or set the timing of an event, action, or occurrence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "establish when" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to denote the determination or setting of a specific time or date. Ludwig AI indicates its acceptability and broad applicability across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic writing. Usage guidance suggests that it is crucial to maintaining proper tense. Alternatives such as "determine the timing" or "ascertain the date" can offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine the timing

Focuses on finding out when something will happen.

ascertain the date

Emphasizes confirming the exact date of an event.

identify the moment

Highlights pinpointing a specific point in time.

figure out when

A more informal way of saying "establish when".

set the time

Implies scheduling or arranging a specific time.

decide on the date

Highlights making a decision about a particular date.

discover when

Focuses on finding out when something occurred or will occur.

define the timeframe

Focuses on defining the period in which something happens.

clarify the timing

Emphasizes making the time of an event clear.

recognize when

Highlights acknowledging when an event takes place.

FAQs

How can I use "establish when" in a sentence?

You can use "establish when" to inquire about or determine the timing of an event, like "We need to establish when the project deadline is" or "Scientists are trying to establish when the species diverged".

What phrases are similar to "establish when"?

Similar phrases include "determine when", "ascertain when", or "identify when", all of which imply finding out the timing of something.

Is it better to use "establish when" or "determine when"?

"Establish when" and "determine when" are often interchangeable, but "establish" can imply a more formal or official setting of a time, while "determine" simply means to find out.

What's the difference between "establish when" and "define when"?

"Establish when" typically refers to setting or discovering a specific point in time. "Define when", on the other hand, could involve setting the conditions or criteria for something to occur.