failed to ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to ascertain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone was unable to determine or find out specific information. Example: "The investigation failed to ascertain the cause of the accident despite extensive efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Explanation: South Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service officers at the scene failed to ascertain the nature of the problem at Leppings Lane.

The Guardian

In Uzbekistan, the Army failed to ascertain, as regulations require, whether its own units, which handled logistics there for the first six months, were available to work when it brought in the contractor, according to Army spokesmen.

The New York Times

Nisman was found shot in his bathroom a day before he was due to testify in Congress against Fernández de Kirchner, but prosecutors have so far failed to ascertain whether it was suicide or murder.

The Guardian

After nine days of torture, Hussain signed a confession and was tried, for reasons unknown, in a special anti-terrorist court where an appointed lawyer failed to ascertain his age or produce any defence witnesses.

The Guardian

In court filings, lawyers representing these shareholders said that representatives of the Louisiana and Florida plaintiffs had done little investigation, deposing only two of the bank's directors, and failed to ascertain whether the board had sufficient assets to contribute to a settlement.

The New York Times

I have also read the obligatory reply to your article from the prime minister's office (May 17th).Apart from the colourful language used by Lim Siam Kim, referring to allegations of corruption and dishonesty, among other things, I have failed to ascertain exactly what was said by Mr Tang to warrant millions of dollars in compensation.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Consequently, our detection methods may fail to ascertain the complete lineage composition of all colonies, especially in small colonies.

Biological Procedures Online

However, this would fail to ascertain the number of patients presenting to nearby non-laboratory-linked hospitals.

BMJ Open

This passive approach to follow-up may fail to ascertain all deaths and may incorrectly link some incidence and death records.

BMC Cancer

Because of dynamic migration patterns within the United States, these methods may fail to ascertain cases that are due to recent transmission when a putative source case-patient moves or if exposure occurred outside the range of spatial scanning.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Next, the ASSIST ascertains if a friend or relative has ever expressed concern about their drug use and if the person has ever tried and failed to control their drug use.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "failed to ascertain" when you want to express a formal and authoritative tone, indicating that a thorough effort was made but did not yield a conclusive result.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to ascertain" in very informal contexts. Simpler phrases like "couldn't find out" or "didn't figure out" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to ascertain" functions as a verb phrase indicating the unsuccessful attempt to discover or establish something. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed to ascertain" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to express that an attempt to determine or establish something was unsuccessful. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is perfectly usable in written English. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it conveys a formal and authoritative tone. When using the phrase, it's important to consider the context and ensure that a simpler or more informal alternative isn't more appropriate. Alternatives include "failed to determine", "failed to establish", and "failed to discover".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to determine

This alternative is a more direct and commonly used synonym, suitable for most contexts.

could not ascertain

This alternative uses a different construction, emphasizing the inability to ascertain.

failed to establish

This alternative implies a failure to prove or confirm something definitively.

failed to discover

This alternative suggests a failure to find out something that was previously unknown.

were unable to ascertain

This alternative provides a more formal phrasing with the same meaning.

failed to identify

This alternative focuses on the inability to recognize or pinpoint something specific.

did not ascertain

This alternative is a more concise phrasing using "did not" instead of "failed to".

failed to find out

This is a more informal way of saying "failed to ascertain".

missed ascertaining

This alternative suggests a missed opportunity to determine something.

overlooked determining

This alternative indicates that ascertaining was unintentionally ignored.

FAQs

How can I use "failed to ascertain" in a sentence?

You can use "failed to ascertain" when you want to express that someone or something was unable to determine or find out a particular piece of information. For example: "The investigation "failed to ascertain" the cause of the accident."

What are some alternatives to "failed to ascertain"?

Some alternatives include "failed to determine", "failed to establish", or "failed to discover". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Which is correct: "failed to ascertain" or "failed at ascertaining"?

"Failed to ascertain" is the correct and more common phrasing. "Failed at ascertaining" is grammatically awkward and less frequently used.

What's the difference between "failed to ascertain" and "unable to ascertain"?

"Failed to ascertain" implies that an attempt was made but was unsuccessful. "Unable to ascertain" simply indicates a lack of ability to determine something, without necessarily implying an attempt was made. They are often interchangeable, but "failed to ascertain" has a slightly stronger connotation of effort.