in ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in ascertain" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be a misuse of the word "ascertain," which means to find out or determine something. Example: "We need to ascertain the cause of the issue before proceeding."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In between tenants, such a company can quickly go in, ascertain what needs to be done (often just a cleaning), and send in the appropriate trades-people on your behalf before renting the unit to the next tenant for you.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They found none, but seemed more interested in ascertaining the identities of everyone on the site.

The Guardian - Opinion

But in ascertaining whether a certain voter falls into the "likely voter" category, different polling organizations apply different criteria.

The New Yorker

But in the case of the Katrina debacle, the people have a clear interest in ascertaining how and why the administration failed in its response.

The New York Times

Thus, in writing about early Rome, ancient historians were confronted with great difficulties in ascertaining the truth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And the representatives of this majority, in ascertaining and executing its will, ascertain and execute the will of the vested interests, which have formed the majority.

The Economist

Good for you, New York Times, for acknowledging that your writers were less than thorough in ascertaining all the facts leading up to the war in Iraq and in its aftermath.

The New York Times

After a year living rough in Greece, she was picked up by a charity and eventually returned to the UK to appeal publicly for help in ascertaining her identity (her current whereabouts are unknown).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Tehranian was said to have been a Marxist before he joined the government, and I had gone to see him primarily because I needed some help in ascertaining the part that the Marxists had played in what had been happening.

The New Yorker

Veterans of the Russian automotive industry say Renault is probably correct in ascertaining that any investment now will most likely go toward buying a few more months of social stability, rather than installing the new car platforms.

The New York Times

The IUCN says: "In extreme cases, where a site is in ascertained or potential danger of losing the Outstanding Universal Value for which it was inscribed on the World Heritage List, the Committee may decide to inscribe it on the Danger List".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "in ascertain". Instead, opt for more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "in determining" or "when ascertaining" for clearer communication.

Common error

A common mistake is using "ascertain" directly after "in" as if it were a gerund or present participle. Remember that "ascertain" needs to function as a gerund (ascertaining) or be replaced by a more suitable verb form such as 'determining'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in ascertain" functions as a prepositional phrase followed by a verb. However, Ludwig AI highlights that this construction is grammatically incorrect. A correct usage would involve using the gerund form, "ascertaining," after the preposition "in."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

20%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in ascertain" is considered grammatically incorrect according to Ludwig AI. The correct usage involves using the gerund form, "ascertaining", after the preposition "in", or opting for alternative phrases like "in determining" or "in finding out". Although the term "ascertain" often suits formal contexts, the incorrect phrasing diminishes its effectiveness. Therefore, writers should prioritize grammatical accuracy to maintain clarity and credibility in their communication. Always prefer "in ascertaining" or rephrase the sentence for better grammar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in determining

Replaces "ascertain" with "determining", providing a more common and grammatically sound alternative.

in finding out

Uses a phrasal verb to convey the act of discovering, offering a simpler and more direct substitute.

in establishing

Focuses on the act of confirming or proving something to be true.

in verifying

Highlights the process of checking or confirming the accuracy of something.

in confirming

Emphasizes the act of validating or proving something to be correct.

in discovering

Focuses on the process of finding something previously unknown.

when ascertaining

Changes the structure to use "ascertaining" in a clause, which is grammatically valid.

while ascertaining

Similar to "when ascertaining", this uses "ascertaining" in a present participle clause.

for ascertaining

Indicates purpose, with "ascertaining" as a gerund, which is grammatically acceptable.

regarding ascertainment

Transforms the phrase to focus on the act of "ascertainment" itself.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "ascertain" after a preposition?

After a preposition like "in", it's more grammatically correct to use the gerund form, "ascertaining". For example, "in ascertaining the facts" is better than "in ascertain the facts".

What can I say instead of "in ascertain"?

You can use alternatives like "in determining", "in finding out", or "for ascertaining" depending on the context.

Why is "in ascertain" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "in ascertain" is grammatically incorrect because "ascertain" is a verb, and after the preposition "in", you typically need a gerund (verb ending in -ing) or a noun phrase. Thus, "in ascertaining" is the correct form.

When is it appropriate to use the word "ascertain"?

"Ascertain" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the process of finding something out for certain. It's often used in formal or official contexts. For example, "We need to ascertain the facts before proceeding".