in ascertaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in ascertaining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of determining or finding out information or facts. Example: "The researchers faced challenges in ascertaining the exact cause of the phenomenon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 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

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

Encyclopedia Britannica

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

As such, Socrates was interested in ascertaining the truth and promoting the pursuit of virtue, not in the self-importance or his own status.

The Economist

Yutaka Ito at Tokyo Metropolitan University and colleagues succeeded for the first time in ascertaining a three-dimensional protein structure exclusively from NMR spectroscopy data from living cells.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That leaves us looking to Orlando's cap sheet for guidance in ascertaining the team's motivations, but there honestly isn't much to be found.

The New York Times

However, oxaliplatin functions in a non-targeted manner, posing a difficulty in ascertaining precise efficacy mechanisms.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

We were interested in ascertaining whether the angiopoietins have this activity within the animal proper.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

This constitutes a major challenge in ascertaining future water availability' (Marotzke et al. 2017).

Forest Ecosystems

This has helped in ascertaining the practical applicability of the adsorbent.

Journal of Hazardous Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in ascertaining", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being determined or discovered. The phrase is most effective when followed by a specific object or outcome.

Common error

While "in ascertaining" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversations or informal writing. Consider simpler alternatives like "in finding out" or "in learning" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in ascertaining" functions as a prepositional phrase, where "in" is a preposition and "ascertaining" is a gerund (verb acting as a noun). It commonly introduces a clause indicating the method or means by which something is being determined or discovered. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use across various fields.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in ascertaining" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that denotes the process of finding something out or determining a fact through investigation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile and appears in a wide range of contexts, most frequently in scientific and news media sources. While it's suitable for formal and academic writing, simpler alternatives might be preferred in informal settings. Remember that the phrase is most effective when followed by a specific object or desired outcome. When a writer is trying to express more simple concepts is preferible to use alternative and most common synonyms, such as: "in determining", "in identifying", or "in establishing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in determining

This alternative directly replaces "ascertaining" with "determining", keeping the core meaning intact.

in identifying

This alternative focuses on recognizing or establishing what something is.

in establishing

This alternative emphasizes the process of setting something as a certainty after investigation.

in verifying

This alternative highlights the act of confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

in confirming

This alternative is similar to "verifying" but emphasizes the validation of pre-existing information.

in discovering

This alternative emphasizes the finding of something previously unknown.

in finding out

This alternative is a more informal way to express the act of learning something.

in investigating

This alternative implies a more thorough and detailed search for information.

in exploring

This alternative emphasizes the examination of something to learn more about it.

in clarifying

This alternative focuses on making something easier to understand by removing ambiguities.

FAQs

How to use "in ascertaining" in a sentence?

The phrase "in ascertaining" is used to indicate the process of finding something out or determining something. For example: "The team faced challenges "in ascertaining" the root cause of the problem."

What can I say instead of "in ascertaining"?

You can use alternatives like "in determining", "in identifying", or "in establishing" depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Which is correct, "in ascertaining" or "to ascertain"?

"In ascertaining" functions as a prepositional phrase, often followed by a noun or gerund, while "to ascertain" is an infinitive verb phrase. The choice depends on the sentence structure. For example, "The goal is "to ascertain" the truth" versus "Success depends "in ascertaining" all the relevant facts".

What's the difference between "in ascertaining" and "in assuming"?

"In ascertaining" implies a process of investigation and discovery to establish a fact. "In assuming", on the other hand, means accepting something as true without proof. They are opposite in their approach to knowledge. It's all about investigation versus pre-conceived ideas.