firmly ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

"firmly ascertain" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to confidently determine something or make a strong and accurate judgment. You can use it in formal or academic writing, such as in research papers, reports, or essays. Example: After conducting a thorough investigation, the scientists were able to firmly ascertain the cause of the outbreak.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The software models can also be used to firmly ascertain the impeller trim or the pump speed.

Working Guide to Pumps and Pumping Stations Calculations and Simulations

Sandberg couldn't provide the straight answer being sought, she said, because "ads don't run with inorganic content on our service" — claiming: "There is actually no way to firmly ascertain how much ads are attached to how much organic content; it's not how it works".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

However, the impact of antimicrobial resistance on the clinical outcome has not been firmly ascertained, particularly in developing country settings [ 6- 8, 21, 22].

BMC Infectious Diseases

While automated perimetry is widely used to ascertain visual field loss, our preference was firmly for the Friedmann test on the basis that it was less disconcerting to elderly patients and is consistent with the transferability of visual field data between different machines [ 45].

BMC Ophthalmology

Firmly rooted in the psychometric discourse, the traditional objective of assessment was to ascertain objectively whether students had attained the desired results (Hodges 2006).

Advances in Health Sciences Education

score difficult to ascertain.

The New Yorker

The answers are not easy to ascertain.

The New York Times

We will continue to speak to the victims to ascertain what this ascertained.

The Guardian

I could not ascertain such intent.

Huffington Post

While Carr firmly believed that his skepticism about the Internet's benefits to cognition was warranted, he cautioned in both his essay and his book The Big Switch that long-term psychological and neurological studies were required to definitively ascertain how cognition develops under the influence of the Internet.

Wikipedia

After ascertaining that she is finished packing, he firmly urges her to vacate the room, which she does.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "firmly ascertain" when you want to convey a sense of strong certainty and confidence in the determination of something, particularly after a thorough investigation or analysis. This phrase is best suited for formal writing contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "firmly ascertain" in casual conversation or informal writing. Its formal tone can sound unnatural or pretentious in everyday contexts. Opt for simpler alternatives like "find out" or "make sure" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "firmly ascertain" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to express the action of confidently establishing or determining something. As Ludwig AI reports, it can be effectively employed in formal or academic writing to indicate a strong and accurate judgment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "firmly ascertain" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to express the confident determination of something. Ludwig AI indicates it is suitable for formal and academic writing, conveying a sense of strong certainty. While not very common, its use is appropriate in scientific and professional contexts. Alternatives like "definitely ascertain" or "firmly establish" can be used to vary your writing. Be mindful of overusing it in informal settings, where simpler language is preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

definitely ascertain

Replaces "firmly" with "definitely", emphasizing the lack of doubt in the ascertainment.

firmly establish

Substitutes "ascertain" with "establish", focusing on the act of setting something up securely.

firmly determine

Replaces "ascertain" with "determine", highlighting the process of making a firm decision or conclusion.

establish beyond doubt

Replaces the entire phrase with a more emphatic expression of certainty.

conclusively prove

Focuses on providing irrefutable evidence to support a claim, replacing "ascertain" with "prove".

verify with certainty

Emphasizes the verification aspect with a strong degree of confidence.

confirm definitively

Highlights the confirmation aspect with a sense of finality.

ascertain with confidence

Focuses on the confidence in the process of ascertaining.

firmly verify

Replaces "ascertain" with "verify", emphasizing the act of confirming accuracy.

establish without question

Implies a level of certainty that leaves no room for doubt or dispute.

FAQs

How can I use "firmly ascertain" in a sentence?

You can use "firmly ascertain" to express a strong conviction that something has been determined accurately. For example, "The investigators were able to "definitely ascertain" the cause of the accident after reviewing the evidence."

What are some alternatives to "firmly ascertain"?

Alternatives to "firmly ascertain" include "firmly establish", "firmly determine", and "establish beyond doubt". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "firmly ascertain" in casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "firmly ascertain" is quite formal. In casual conversation, consider using simpler alternatives like "find out for sure" or "make certain".

What is the difference between "firmly ascertain" and "ascertain"?

Adding "firmly" to "ascertain" emphasizes the confidence and certainty with which something is determined. It suggests a stronger and more definitive conclusion.